GB2187960A - Ear piercing - Google Patents

Abstract

An ear piercing apparatus comprises a stud 10 releasably held in a stud holder 5, a clasp 15 releasably held in a clasp holder 6, a rail 7 for maintaining the stud holder and clasp holder in axial alignment and in spaced apart relationship to receive in use an ear therebetween, a gun for urging the stud along the alignment axis from the stud holder to pierce the ear and to engage the clasp and a channel (e.g. as part of the stud holder) for axially guiding the driven stud wherein the stud holder, clasp holder, the rail and the channel together comprise a disposable cartridge. The gun may be self cocking for one handed use and the cartridge can be fitted in a single operation so that ear piercing can be carried out rapidly with minimal risk of infection. In use the ear is gripped by relative movement of the clasp holder and the stud holder so that a taut area of skin is presented to the stud in order to facilitate penetration and minimise tissue damage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to ear piercing This invention relates to apparatus for ear piercing of the type in which an ear piercing stud is driving through an ear to engage a clasp.

It is known to provide ear piercing guns in which a stud is propelled from a stud holder towards a clasp held in a clasp holder, the stud having a pointed front porton for piercing an ear, such that after piercing the stud and clasp remain fastened to the pierced ear.

In order to avoid the risk of infection of the ear and in particular the risk of infection communicated between successive users of the gun it is recognised that those parts of the apparatus coming in contact with the ear should preferably be sterile and to meet this objective it has been proposed to include disposable holders for both the stud and the clasp.

A problem remains with such apparatus in that the remaining non disposable parts may also come into proximity with the ear with a consequent risk of infection.

There also exists a need to provide apparatus which is simple and convenient to use and in which the fitting of disposable parts can be swiftly carried out by relatively unskilled operatives.

According to the present invention there is disclosed ear piercing apparatus comprising a stud releasably held in a stud holder, a clasp releasably held in a clasp holder, connecting means maintaining the stud holder and clasp holder in axial alignment and in spaced apart relationship to receive in use an ear therebetween, drive means for urging the stud along the alignment axis from the stud holder to pierce the ear and to engage the clasp and guide means for axially guiding the driven stud wherein the stud holder, clasp holder, connecting means and guide means together comprise a disposable cartridge.

Preferably the connecting means facilitates relative axial movement of of the stud holder and clasp holder. This gives the advantage of enabling the stud holder and clasp holder to be moved together into contact with the ear in preparation for piercing.

Conveniently the connecting means comprises an axially extending rail formed integrally with the clasp holder, the stud holder and rail having interfitting formations retaining the holder in contact with the rail whilst facilitating axial sliding movement therebetween.

Advantageously the interfitting formations comprise laterally extending longitudinal flanges on opposite sides of the rail and corresponding longitudinal grooves of the stud holder.

Preferably the guide means is formed integrally with the stud holder and comprises a channel portion thereof having an axially extending channel of uniform internal cross section co-operating with a guide portion of the stud of corresponding external cross section so as to be axially slideable therein.

The stud may conveniently be an interference fit within the channel to frictionally retain the stud in position prior to use.

Advantageously the channel portion is of a resilient material and includes a longitudinally extening aperture such that the channel cross section is expandable to accomodate variations in stud size which might for example be due to manufacturing tolerances.

According to a further aspect of the invention the drive means comprises a gun having a support for releasably holding the disposable cartridge, a plunger arranged for reciprocating movement along the channel axis and a trigger for actuating the gun such that upon actuation the plunger is propelled from a rest position into the channel to thereby drive the stud and is then immediately withdrawn to the rest po sition .

Conveniently the gun is spring powered by means of a firing spring which is energised by trigger movement so as to be self cocking.

Preferably the connecting means of the cartridge facilitates relative axial movement of the stud holder and clasp holder and trigger movememt in the gun actuating direction moves the support together with the cartridge towards a fixed abutment of the gun such that movement of the stud holder is arrested by contact with the abutment with consequent relative movement of the stud holder and clasp holder towards each other so as to grip an ear in use. Conveniently the trigger and the support are integrally formed.

Advantageously the trigger when moved in the gun actuating direction compresses the firing spring via lever action and continued movement beyond a firing position of the trigger actuates a catch to release the firing spring to propel the plunger, the plunger and trigger thereafter being returned to their rest positions by return spring means.

Advantageously the position of the support when the trigger is in the firing position provides a predetermined separation between the stud holder and clasp holder such that in use the ear is held between and in contact with the stud holder and clasp holder at the moment of firing.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is disclosed a cartridge for use in apparatus as hereinbefore disclosed.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is disclosed a gun for use in apparatus as hereinbefore disclosed.

According to a stili further aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of ear piercing using apparatus as hereinbefore disclosed comprising the steps of fitting the cartridge carrying a stud and clasp to the drive means, disposing an ear between the stud holder and the clasp holder, actuating the drive means to pierce the ear and engage the stud with the clasp, releasing the clasp from the claps holder and disposing of the cartridge.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ear piercing gun fitting with a cartridge, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stud, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a stud holder, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a clasp, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clasp holder, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a support of the ear piercing gun, Figure 7 is a sectioned view of an ear piercing gun with the trigger and the plunger in the rest position, and Figure 8 is a similar view of the gun of Fig.

7 during firing.

Fig. 1 shows an ear piercing gun 1 which is designed to be hand held in a conventional pistol grip having a trigger 2. A cartridge 3 is mounted on a support formed integrally with the trigger 2.

A cartridge 3 comprises a stud holder 5 and a clasp holder 6 which are connected by a rail 7 which is formed integrally with the clasp holder. The stud holder 8 includes a longitudinally extending guide portion 8 having a channel 9 of circular cross section and the stud holder is slideable with respect to the rail 7 so as to permit relative movement between the clasp holder 6 and the stud holder 5.

Fig. 2 shows a stud 10 having a pointed forward portion 11 for piercing an ear in use and a cylindrical rear portion 12 which is a sliding fit within the guide 8 thereby constraining the longitunal axis of the stud to be coaxial with the channel 9.

The stud holder is of a resilient plastics material and includes a longitudinally extending aperture such that the diameter of the channel may be resiliently expanded to accomodate variations in stud size. The diameter of the rear portion 12 of the stud will generally be chosen to require some expansion of the guide upon insertion so that the stud 10 is positively gripped and is thereby held in place prior to firing of the gun. The aperture 13 also serves to permit visual location of the stud position and the guide 8 also includes a cut away portion 14 for ease of location of the forward portion 11 when aiming the gun.

The clasp 15 shown in Fig. 4 is locatable in the clasp holder 6 shown in detail in Fig. 5 where it is lightly held in place by a resilient tongue 16 shown in Fig. 1.

The rail 7 includes longitudinal flanges 17 which are interfitting with longitudinal grooves 18 in the base of the stud holder 5.

When a stud 10 and clasp 15 are located in the assembled cartridge 3 the longitudinal axis of the stud is aligned with the clasp center and the relative movement between the stud holder 5 and the clasp holder 6 along the rail 7 is such as to maintain this alignment. Similarly the channel 9 is aligned with this axis such that the stud when moved within the guide is maintained with its longitudinal axis in alignment with the clasp. The cartridge 3 thereby defines an alignment axis along which the stud extends and along which the stud is movable into engagement with the clasp 15.

Fig. 6 shows the support 4 which includes a longitudinal rib 19 for location in a corresponding groove 20 along the underside of the clasp holder 6. Two locating lugs 21 are upstanding from the rib 19 and are received in sprung holes 22 in the rail 6, each hole 22 being resiliently expandable by virtue of a relief groove 23 such that the lugs 21 are positively gripped when the cartridge 3 is located on the support. The lugs 21 serve to prevent axial movement of the cartridge whilst the groove 20 and rib 19 interact to resist lateral or twisting movement relative to the gun.

The cartridge 3 comprising the stud holder 5, the guide 8, the clasp holder 6 and the rail 7 is of a resilient plastics material and therefore constitutes a relatively low cost disposable item.

The gun 1 as seen in Fig. 7 has a trigger 2 formed integrally with the support 4 and slideably received in a handle 24. The trigger 2 is retained in its rest position as shown in Fig. 6 by return springs 25.

A plunger 26 is arranged for reciprocal motion along the alignment axis of the cartridge and in its rest position as shown in Fig. 6 is withdrawn within the gun body 27. When a cartridge is fitted to the support 4 the stud holder 5 rests against an abutment 28 of the gun body.

When the trigger 2 is pulled towards the handle 24 the support 4 is drawn towards the gun body 27 together with the rail 7 and clasp holder 6 of the cartridge 3. The stud holder 5 is prevented from movement by contact with the abutment 28 so that trigger movement results in the relative movement of the stud holder and clasp holder towards each other. The trigger movement also compresses a firing spring 29 via a lever 30 which is pivoted about a pivot 31 so as to translate the rearward trigger movement into a forward compression motion to thereby energise the firing spring 29. The firing spring 29 is arranged to urge the plunger 26 along the alignment axis through the channel 9 of the stud holder 5, this movement being checked by a catch 32. The trigger reaches a firing position when the separation between the stud holder 5 and the clasp holder 6 is reduced to a predetermined separation such that in use an ear will be held between and in contact with the stud holder and clasp holder.

At this point a detent 33 of the trigger 2 releases the catch 32 so that the plunger 26 is propelled by the spring 29 into the channel 9. The stud 10 is driven by the plunger 26 along the channel 9 of the guide 8 such that the forward portion 11 of the stud pierces the ear and engages the clasp 15.

Fig. 8 shows the gun during firing with the plunger 26 projecting from the gun. Immediately after firing the plunger is returned to its rest position by a return spring 34 and the trigger is similarly returned to its rest position by return springs 25 thereby separating the stud holder 5 and clasp holder 6 to release the ear. The clasp 15 is released from the clasp holder 6 by downward movement of the cartridge 3 so that the stud 10 and clasp remain in their engaged position in the pierced ear. The cartridge 3 may then be removed from the support 4 for disposal.

Replacement cartridges may be conveniently be supplied in sterile packs in which the stud and clasp are provided in situ so that an operator upon opening the pack may fit the cartridge 3 onto the support 4 without handling the stud or the clasp. During the ear piercing operation the only components of the apparatus likely to come into contact with the ear are those of the cartridge which being sterilised do not present any infection risk to the user.

The body 27 of the gun together with the trigger 2 are made of a plastics material so as to be readily cleaned to provide improved appearance and hygiene. The internal mechanism of the gun including the plunger 26, the catch 32 and the lever 30 are of metallic materials to ensure reliable and accurate operation.

In order to maintain the relative positions of the stud holder 8 and clasp holder 6 in the cartridge 3 during transit a small detent (not shown) may be included on the rail 7 to provide exta grip between the rail and the stud holder, this extra grip being overcome during the initial stage of trigger movement.

The invention has application to ear piercing by relatively un-skilled operatives and provides a simple self cocking gun for one handed use.

Since the cartridge is fitted in a single operation ear piercing can be carried out rapidly with minimal risk of infection. The gripping action provided by the relative movement of the clasp holder and the stud holder presents a taut area of skin to the stud which facilitates penetration and minimises tissue damage to the user.

Claims (19)

1. Ear piercing apparatus comprising a stud releasably held in a stud holder, a clasp releasably held in a clasp holder, connecting means maintaining the stud holder and clasp holder in axial alignment and in spaced apart relationship to receive in use an ear therebetween, drive means for urging the stud along the alignment axis from the stud holder to pierce the ear and to engage the clasp and guide means for axially guiding the driven stud wherein the stud holder, clasp holder, connecting means and guide means together comprise a disposable cartridge.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the connecting means facilitates relative axial movement of the stud holder and clasp holder.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the connecting means comprises an axially extending rail formed integrally with the clasp holder, the stud holder and rail having interfitting formations retaining the holder in contact with the rail whilst facilitating axial sliding movement therebetween.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the interfitting formations comprise laterally extending longitudinal flanges on opposite sides of the rail and corresponding longitudinal grooves of the stud holder.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide means is formed integrally with the stud holder and comprises a channel portion thereof having an axially extending channel of uniform internal cross section co-operating with a guide portion of the stud of corresponding external cross section so as to be axially slideable therein.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the stud is an interference fit within the channel to frictionally retain the stud in position prior to use.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the channel portion is of a resilient material and includes a longitudinally extending aperture such that the channel cross section is expandable to accomodate variations in stud size.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the drive means comprises a gun having a support for releasably holding the disposable cartridge, a plunger arranged for reciprocating movement along the channel axis and a trigger for actuating the gun such that upon actuation the plunger is propelled from a rest position into the channel to thereby drive the stud and is then immediately withdrawn to the rest position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the gun is spring powered by means of a firing spring which is energised by trigger movement so as to be self cocking.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 where the connecting means of the cartridge facilitates relative axial movement of the stud holder and clasp holder and wherein trigger movement in the gun actuating direction moves the support together with the cartridge towards a fixed abutment of the gun such that movement of the stud holder is arrested by contact with the abutment with consequent relative movement of the stud holder and clasp holder towards each other so as to grip an ear in use.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the trigger and the support are integrally formed.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the trigger when moved in the gun actuating direction compresses the firing spring via lever action and wherein continued movement beyond a firing position of the trigger actuates a catch to release the firing spring to propel the plunger, the plunger and trigger thereafter being returned to their rest positions by return spring means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the position of the support when the trigger is in the firing position provides a predetermined separation between the stud holder and clasp holder such that in use the ear is held between and in contact with the stud holder and clasp holder at the moment of firing.

14. A cartridge for use in apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. A gun for use in apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13.

16. A method of ear piercing using apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 comprising the steps of fitting the cartridge carrying a stud and clasp to the drive means, disposing an ear between the stud holder and the clasp holder, actuating the drive means to pierce the ear and engage the stud with the clasp, releasing the clasp from the clasp holder and disposing of the cartridge.

17. Ear piercing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore disclosed and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. A cartridge as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of ear piercing as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings.