Nail clipper

Last updated
A variety of nail clippers; the clipper on the left is in the plier style; the centre and right clippers are in the compound lever style Nail-clippers-variety.jpg
A variety of nail clippers; the clipper on the left is in the plier style; the centre and right clippers are in the compound lever style

A nail clipper (also called nail clippers, a nail trimmer, a nail cutter or nipper type) is a hand tool used to trim fingernails, toenails and hangnails.

Contents

Design

Nail clipper compound lever.svg
Levers of a compound-lever clipper; purple triangles denote the fulcra

Nail clippers are usually made of stainless steel but can also be made of plastic and aluminum. Two common varieties are the pliers type and the compound lever type. Many nail clippers usually come with a miniature file fixed to it to allow rough edges of nails to be manicured. Nail clippers occasionally come with a nail catcher. The nail clipper consists of a head that may be concave or convex. Specialized nail clippers which have convex clipping ends are intended for trimming toenails, while concave clipping ends are for fingernails. The cutting head may be manufactured to be parallel or perpendicular to the principal axis of the cutter. Cutting heads that are parallel to the principal axis are made to address accessibility issues involved with cutting toenails.

History

Razor (top) and nail cutter with bone handle (bottom) found in a grave of the Hallstatt culture (c. 6th-8th centuries BC) Magdalenenberg cut and shave.jpg
Razor (top) and nail cutter with bone handle (bottom) found in a grave of the Hallstatt culture (c. 6th–8th centuries BC)
Roman nail clipper made of bronze, 3rd to 4th century AD. Roman nailclipper.jpg
Roman nail clipper made of bronze, 3rd to 4th century AD.
1902 advertisement from Good Housekeeping for Carter's nail cutter, produced by the H. C. Cook Company of Ansonia, Connecticut H. C. Cook Company - nail trimmer, 1902.png
1902 advertisement from Good Housekeeping for Carter's nail cutter, produced by the H. C. Cook Company of Ansonia, Connecticut

Before the invention of the modern nail clipper, people would use small knives to trim or pare their nails. Descriptions of nail trimming in literature date as far back as the 8th century BC. The Book of Deuteronomy exhorts in 21:12 that a man, should he wish to take a captive as a wife, "shall bring her home to [his] house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails". A reference is made in Horace's Epistles , written circa 20 BC, to "A close-shaven man, it's said, in an empty barber's booth, penknife in hand, quietly cleaning his nails." [1]

The first United States patent for an improvement in a finger-nail clipper was filed in 1875 by Valentine Fogerty. [2] [3] [4] Other subsequent patents for an improvement in finger-nail clippers are those in 1876 by William C. Edge, [5] and in 1878 by John H. Hollman. [6] Filings for finger-nail clippers include, in 1881, those of Eugene Heim and Celestin Matz, [7] in 1885 by George H. Coates (for a finger-nail cutter), [8] in 1886 by Hungarian Inventor David Gestetner and in 1905 by Chapel S. Carter [9] with a later patent in 1922. [10] Around 1913, Carter was secretary of the H. C. Cook Company in Ansonia, Connecticut, [11] which was incorporated in 1903 as the H. C. Cook Machine Company by Henry C. Cook, Lewis I. Cook, and Chapel S. Carter. [12] Around 1928, Carter was president of the company when he claimed, about 1896, the "Gem"-brand fingernail clipper was introduced. [13]

In 1947, William E. Bassett (who started the W. E. Bassett Company in 1939) developed the "Trim"-brand nail clipper, [14] using the superior jaw-style design that had been around since the 19th century, but adding two nibs near the base of the file to prevent lateral movement, replacing the pinned rivet with a notched rivet, and adding a thumb-swerve in the lever. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Router (woodworking)</span> Woodworking power tool

The router is a power tool with a flat base and a rotating blade extending past the base. The spindle may be driven by an electric motor or by a pneumatic motor. It routs an area in hard material, such as wood or plastic. Routers are used most often in woodworking, especially cabinetry. They may be handheld or affixed to router tables. Some woodworkers consider the router one of the most versatile power tools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debeaking</span> Trimming of a birds beak, usually performed on domesticated birds

Debeaking, beak trimming, or beak conditioning is the partial removal of the beak of poultry, especially layer hens and turkeys although it may also be performed on quail and ducks. Most commonly, the beak is shortened permanently, although regrowth can occur. The trimmed lower beak is somewhat longer than the upper beak. A similar but separate practice, usually performed by an avian veterinarian or an experienced birdkeeper, involves clipping, filing or sanding the beaks of captive birds for health purposes – in order to correct or temporarily to alleviate overgrowths or deformities and better allow the bird to go about its normal feeding and preening activities. Amongst raptor-keepers, this practice is commonly known as "coping".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manicure</span> Cosmetic beauty treatment for hands and fingernails

A manicure is a mostly cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands performed at home or in a nail salon. A manicure usually consists of filing and shaping the free edge of nails, pushing and clipping any nonliving tissue, treatments with various liquids, massage of the hand, and the application of fingernail polish. When the same is applied to the toenails and feet, the treatment is referred to as a pedicure. Together, the treatments may be known as a mani-pedi. Most nail polish can stay on nails for 2–3 days before another manicure is required for maintenance, if there is no damage done to it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail (anatomy)</span> Hard keratin protection of digit

A nail is a protective plate characteristically found at the tip of the digits of all primates, corresponding to the claws in other tetrapod animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough rigid protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer also found in the claws, hooves and horns of vertebrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedicure</span> Cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails pedicure

A pedicure is a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails, analogous to a manicure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlete's foot</span> Skin infection caused by fungus

Athlete's foot, known medically as tinea pedis, is a common skin infection of the feet caused by a fungus. Signs and symptoms often include itching, scaling, cracking and redness. In rare cases the skin may blister. Athlete's foot fungus may infect any part of the foot, but most often grows between the toes. The next most common area is the bottom of the foot. The same fungus may also affect the nails or the hands. It is a member of the group of diseases known as tinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nail polish</span> Lacquer applied to fingernails and/or toenails

Nail polish is a lacquer that can be applied to the human fingernail or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formula has been revised repeatedly to enhance its decorative properties, to be safer for the consumer to use, and to suppress cracking or peeling. Nail polish consists of a mix of an organic polymer and several other components that give it colors and textures. Nail polishes come in all color shades and play a significant part in manicures and pedicures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric shaver</span> Razor with an electrically powered rotating or oscillating blade

An electric shaver is a razor with an electrically powered rotating or oscillating blade. The electric shaver usually does not require the use of shaving cream, soap, or water. The razor may be powered by a small DC motor, which is either powered by batteries or mains electricity. Many modern ones are powered using rechargeable batteries. Alternatively, an electro-mechanical oscillator driven by an AC-energized solenoid may be used. Some very early mechanical shavers had no electric motor and had to be powered by hand, for example by pulling a cord to drive a flywheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leukonychia</span> White spots on finger and toe nails

Leukonychia is a medical term for white discoloration appearing on nails. It is derived from the Greek words leuko 'white' and onyx 'nail'. The most common cause is injury to the base of the nail where the nail is formed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paronychia</span> Medical condition

Paronychia is an inflammation of the skin around the nail, which can occur suddenly, when it is usually due to the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, or gradually when it is commonly caused by the fungus Candida albicans. The term is from Greek: παρωνυχία from para 'around', onyx 'nail', and the abstract noun suffix -ia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onychomycosis</span> Medical condition

Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a fungal infection of the nail. Symptoms may include white or yellow nail discoloration, thickening of the nail, and separation of the nail from the nail bed. Fingernails may be affected, but it is more common for toenails. Complications may include cellulitis of the lower leg. A number of different types of fungus can cause onychomycosis, including dermatophytes and Fusarium. Risk factors include athlete's foot, other nail diseases, exposure to someone with the condition, peripheral vascular disease, and poor immune function. The diagnosis is generally suspected based on the appearance and confirmed by laboratory testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hangnail</span> Torn piece of skin next to a fingernail or toenail

A hangnail is a small, torn piece of skin next to a fingernail or toenail, related to ingrown nails. Hangnails are typically caused by having dry skin, or by trauma to the fingers.

A nail file is a tool used that can be used to gently grind down and shape the edges of nails. They are often used in manicures and pedicures after the nail has been trimmed using appropriate nail clippers. Nail files may either be emery boards, ceramic, glass, crystal, plain metal files or metal files coated with corundum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horse grooming</span>

Horse grooming is hygienic care given to a horse, or a process by which the horse's physical appearance is enhanced for horse shows or other types of competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog grooming</span> Care and cleaning of a dog

Dog grooming refers to both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced for showing or other types of competition. A dog groomer is a person who earns their living grooming dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artificial nails</span> Beauty accessories

Artificial nails, also known as fake nails, false nails, acrylic nails, nail extensions or nail enhancements, are extensions placed over fingernails as fashion accessories. Many artificial nail designs attempt to mimic the appearance of real fingernails as closely as possible, while others may deliberately stray in favor of an artistic look.

Hairstyling tools may include hair irons, hair dryers, hairbrushes, hair rollers, diffusers and various types of scissors.

Bettcher Industries, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of cutting tools used in food processing operations and industrial applications. The company, often referred to as just Bettcher, manufactured the first mechanically powered hand-held meat trimmer in 1954. Since then, the company has introduced successive design generations of trimmers which are sold under the Whizard® and Bettcher Quantum® brand names and are used in meat processing plants in the United States and more than 50 other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary E. Cobb</span> American manicurist

Mary E. Cobb was the first known American manicurist and introduced modern nail manicuring to Britain and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regular haircut</span> Simple hairstyle popular among males

A regular haircut, in Western fashion, is a men's and boys' hairstyle that has hair long enough to comb on top, a defined or deconstructed side part, and a short, semi-short, medium, long, or extra long back and sides. The style is also known by other names including taper cut, regular taper cut, side-part and standard haircut; as well as short back and sides, business-man cut and professional cut, subject to varying national, regional, and local interpretations of the specific taper for the back and sides.

References

  1. Smith, Ernie. "Fingernail Trimming: What We Did Before Nail Clippers". Tedium.co. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  2. US 161112,Fogerty, Valentine,"Improvement in finger-nail trimmers",issued February 24, 1875
  3. Smith, Ernie (2017-02-14). "The Long, Slightly Strange History Behind Fingernail Clipping". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  4. "Fingernail Trimming History: What We Did Before Nail Clippers". Tedium: The Dull Side of the Internet. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  5. US 183256,Edge, William C.,"Improvement in finger-nail trimmers",issued October 17, 1876
  6. US 205088,Hollman, John H.,"Improvement in finger-nail trimmers",issued April 17, 1878
  7. US 244891,Heim, Eugene&Matz, Celestin,"Finger-nail trimmer",issued July 26, 1881
  8. US 342780,Coates, George H.,"Finger-nail cutter",issued August 24, 1885
  9. "Deacon Selden Carter dies". The Day . May 25, 1916.
  10. US 1436010,Carter, Chapel S.&Carter, Hedley P.,"Finger-nail trimmer",issued November 21, 1922
  11. An Export Shipping Tour of New York City, American Industries, Volume 14, Number 5, National Association of Manufacturers, December 1913, p. 43 (retrieved 30 August 2010 from Google Books)
  12. Notes, News and Personals, Modern Machinery , Volumes 13–14, May 1903, p. 167 (retrieved 30 August 2010 from Google Books)
  13. , The American Exporter , Volume 102, John C. Cochran Co., 1928, p.162 (retrieved 30 August 2010 from Google Books)
  14. 1 2 Baker, Nicholson, "Clip Art", Annals of Technology, The New Yorker , November 7, 1994, pp. 165-67 (retrieved 30 August 2010)