GB2235385A - Cartridge for ear piercing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

EAR PIERCING APPARATUS.

This invention relates to apparatus for ear piercing of the type in which an ear piercing stud is driven through an ear to engage a clasp.

It is known to provide ear piercing guns in which a stud is propelled f rom a stud holder towards a clasp held in a clasp holder, the stud having a pointed front portion for piercing an ear, the stud and clasp subsequently forming a stud assembly 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. Known ear piercing systems mount a clasp holder and a stud holder separately on a gun. European Patent Application publication No. 0293553 discloses a system having a cartridge for both the stud and the clasp.

A problem with EP 0293553 and possibly other types of disposable cartridges having two relatively moveable holders for the stud and clasp respectively is that the holders may need to be separated either manually or mechanically from each other before an unpierced ear can be located between the stud and clasp. This of course increases the risk of infection during ear piercing, and introduces a further step in the piercing of an ear.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide ear piercing apparatus provided with a cartridge having two relatively moveable components holding the stud and the clasp respectively in which the components do not have to be manually moved apart before the apparatus can be used, and a cartridge for use in such a system.

According to a first aspect of the invention a disposable cartridge for an ear piercing apparatus comprises a clasp-holding member provided with means for holding a clasp of a stud assembly,, and a stud-holding member provided with means for holding a stud of a stud assembly, one of the members having a guide formation which co-operates with a complementary guide formation provided on the other member so as to enable relative movement to occur between the two members in a direction parallel to the direction of the axis of a stud held in - -1- the stud-holding member, in which a f irst of the members has a f irst stop means which co-operates with second stop means provided on the second of the members so as to prevent the members moving towards each other closer than a predetermined distance defined by the stop means at least during installation of the cartridge into the gun to enable an ear lobe to be inserted between the stud and the clasp, the first stop means being frangible upon a pre-firing operation of the gun to allow the stop means to move beyond each other and the two members to move together closer than the predetermined distance in order to locate the ear lobe during a firing operation of the gun.

Thus the cartridge is supplied in a state in which the members are always f ar enough apart to allow the insertion of an ear lobe, without manipulation of the members.

Preferably the predetermined distance is such that the cartridge has an overall length which is substantially complementary to the available space for the cartridge in the gun.

Preferably the two members have longitudinally extending feet portions which define the guide formation and complementary guide formations. Most preferably the guide formation and complementary guide formation comprise a male tongue running in a female channel.

The first stop means may comprise a peg projecting from one of the feet portions, and the second stop means may comprise a shoulder on the other foot portion.

The first member may define a recessed portion in which the first stop means is provided, the first stop means projecting out of the recess. The provision of the frangible first stop means in a recess ensures that if a burr is left behind when the first stop breaks it does not interfere with the movement of the two members.

Preferably the recess has a longitudinal extent in the direction of relative motion between the two members which is large enough to enable the f irst stop means to be displaced into the recess when it is broken upon operation of the gun.

This enables the first stop means to be broken and yet retained in the cartridge, which avoids loose stop means flying off into the air during the operation of the gun.

Preferably the first stop means is adapted to be fractured and displaced during operation of the gun, but still at least partially joined to the first member.

The stud-holding member may be adapted for use with a stud having a relatively wide body portion and a relatively narrow pin portion which in use pierces the ear, and may have stud guide means at its inward end which is disposed in use adjacent the ear, which stud guide means guides the pin portion of the stud.

The stud guide means preferably comprises a frangible guide element which in use breaks away f rom the stud-holding member.

The pin portion is therefore always protected by the frangible guide element and cannot be touched before it enters the ear.

The frangible guide element may have a membrane which encloses the pin portion in a blind passage defined in the frangible guide element, the pin portion piercing the membrane when the gun is used.

The frangible guide element may comprise a bow formation having two arms. a blind passage being defined at the central region of the bow formation. The pin element thus takes the form of an arrow being guided by and passing through the passage in the bow.

According to a second aspect the invention consists in ear piercing apparatus, such as a gun, f itted with a cartridge in accordance with the f irst aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect the invention consists in taking a cartridge in accordance with the f irst aspect of the invention and placing it in an ear piercing apparatus; manipulating the apparatus so that an ear to be pierced is dispose between the clasp-holding member and the stud- holding member, and firing the apparatus to pierce the ear, there being no memberseparating operation prior to insertion of the ear between the members.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figgre 1 illustrates an ear-piercing gun fitted with a cartridge in accordance with the invention; 1 1 Figure 2 illustrates one form of cartridge in accordance with the invention; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively side views of a stud-holding member and clasp-holding member of another cartridge in accordance with the invention; Figures - 5 and 6 are views on lines 5-5 and 6-6 of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4; -Figures 7 and 8 are plan views of the members of Figures 3 and 4 respectively; and Figure 9 shows a packaging arrangement of a pair of cartridges.

An ear piercing gun 1 is shown in Figure 1 and is fitted with a disposable cartridge 2. The cartridge 2 has pegs which are received in holes in the gun 1 and retain and locate the cartridge to the gun 1. The cartridge 2 contains a stud 3 and clasp 4 (shown in Figure 2). The stud 3 has a relatively narrow pin portion 3a and a larger diameter region 3b, as is conventional.

The gun 1 has a spring powered reciprocating plunger 5 for driving the stud through an ear to be pierced and into the clasp. The gun illustrated has an internal sear mechanism which automatically fires the plunger 5 when a combined spring- loading and firing trigger has been compressed beyond a certain point. it will of course be appreciated that the gun could have a firing trigger which is distinct from the spring-loading trigger and separately operable therefrom.

The cartridge 2 may take the form shown in Figure 2, or the more developed form shown in Figures 3 to 8.

The cartridge 2 of Figure 2 comprises a clasp-holding member 6 slideably movable relative to a stud-holding member 7. The clasp-holding member 6 has a longitudinally extending foot portion 8 from which an upright post 9 extends. The post 9 holds the clasp 4 in a slot 10 in a conventional manner so that the clasp 4 can be withdrawn from the slot 10 by movement of the clasp 4 away from the foot portion 8. The underside of the foot portion 8 has a longitudinal rib or tongue 11 which extends for the full longitudinal length of the foot and serves to guide the two members 6 and 7 for relative movement. Shoulders 12 to either side of the rib 11 also assist in guiding the relative movement of the members. The foot portion also has two pegs (shown in Figure 1, but 4 unreferenced) which locate the clasp-holding member, and thus the cartridge, relative to the gun.

The stud-holding member 7 has a longitudinally extending foot portion 13 and an upright wall 14 provided at one end of the foot portion extending away from it. A frustro-conical stud-housing formation 15 is provided on the wall 14 spaced from the foot portion 13 and extending with its axis generally parallel to the foot portion 13. The stud-housing formation has a generally cylindrical bore 16 at its end disposed in use away f rom the ear to be pierced. The bore 16 is of complementary diameter to that of the main body of the stud 3 which it holds. The end of the formation 15 which in use is disposed adjacent the ear is provided with a slot 17. A bow 18 formed by two arms 19 is provided in the slot 17 and defines a guide passage 20 which receives the forwardmost end of the pin portion 3a of the stud. A web (not shown in Figure 2) closes of f the end of the passage 20.

The foot portion 13 of the member 7 defines a channel 21 of complementary internal cross-section to the external cross-section of the foot portion 8 of the member 6 which is slideably received in the channel 21. A reinforcing buttress 22 connects the wall 14, the stud-housing formation 15, and the foot portion 13.

The foot portion 8 of the clasp-holding member 6 has a projecting stop 23 which abuts a shoulder 24 on the stud-holding member 7 and until the gun is fired prevents the two members from moving any closer together than the predetermined distance defined by the position shown in Figure 2. A further end-stop 25 is provided on the foot portion 8 and serves as an absolute stop to relative movement, even when the gun is fired.

The cartridges 2 are provided in a blister pack in nested pairs, as illustrated in Figure 9.

The user places the cartridge in the gun 1. The overall length of the cartridge is the same as the available space for it at the front of the gun, with the two mounting pegs received in holes in the gun. The user locates the ear between the two members 6 and 7, the members already being spaced apart enough for the insertion of an ear lobe by virtue of the provision of the stop 23. The user then places the gun into a pre- firing state, by compression of the trigger, in which the stid holder Is urged towards the clasp holder and the ear is held between the two members. During this process the stop 23 engages shoulder 24 and breaks to allow the two members to move closer together. The pressure at which the stop 23 breaks is arranged to be relatively light so 1 that the user notices it, but does not have to exert much f orce to break it. Alternatively the force required to break the stop 23 may be so slight as to be almost unnoticeable by the user as compared with the force needed to compress the loading spring of the gun. The user fires the gun, either by further compression of the trigger (if the gun is of the type shown in Figure 1). or by actuating the firing trigger (if the gun has a separate firing trigger). The stud 3 is then driven through the ear and into the clasp 4, being guided in its initial travel by the bore 16 and the passage 20. When the pin portion 3a travels through the passage 20 it breaks the web (not shown) and is for the first time then outside of the formation 15. When the relatively wider portion 3b of the stud hits the bow 18 it breaks the bow away from the formation 15 which allows the stud to leave the formation 15. The portion of the bow near the passage 20 is sufficiently weak that when the portion 3b of the stud hits the bow it also breaks into two arms 19 which f all away. Another possibility is that the arms 19 may simply break at the passage 20 (and not elsewhere) and deflect outwards to allow the stud to pass. The arms would then still be attached to the formation 15.

The stud 25 is not designed to break off and prevents the two members from being moved too close together during f iring of the gun, avoiding the entire cartridge being held to the ear.

The provision of stud 25 is not essential and embodiments are envisaged which do not have such a stop.

A second embodiment is shown in Figures 3 to 8 and is similar to that of Figure 2. The structures of Figures 3 to 8 have been given similar reference numerals where appropriate.

The foot portion 8 of, the embodiment of Figures 3 to -8 has a recess 30 provided at its forward end. The recess 30 opens to an upper surface 31 of the foot portion and has a substantial longitudinal extent. The stop 23 is provided as a peg extending from the flat base of the recess 30 and extends upwardly out of the recess, beyond the upper surface 31. The distance from the base of the stop 23 to the longitudinally rearward end of the recess, end 32, is greater than the height of the stop 23.

The stud-housing formation 15 of the second embodiment is generally cylindrical (rather than V 2 -1 frustro-conical), and the web at the forward end of the passage 20 is shown referenced as 2C.

The operation of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first, but additional comments should be made regarding the stop 23. The stop 23 is deflected by its engagement with shoulder 24 and partially breaks at its base to hinge backwards into the recess 30, the stop 23 still being connected to the base of the recess at its rearward portion (the forward portion breaking). The stop 23 then lies retained in the recess 30. below the level of the surface 31. Thus any burr caused by the breaking of the stop, and the stop itself. cannot interfere with the relative movement of the members. Retaining the stop 23 in the cartridge avoids the danger of small bits of plastics flying off during the piercing operation and possibly striking an eye, or generally creating litter.

In an alternative operation the stop 23 may break off completely to be retained in the recess 30.

Claims (1)

1. A disposable cartridge for an ear piercing apparatus comprising a claspholding member provided with means for holding a clasp of a stud assembly, and a stud-holding member provided with means for holding a stud of a stud assembly, one of the members having a guide formation which co- operates with a complementary guide formation provided on the other member so as to enable relative movement to occur between the two members in a direction parallel to the direction of the axis of a stud held in the stud-holding member, in which a first of the members has a first stop means which co-operates with second stop means provided on the second of the members so as to prevent the members moving towards each other closer than a predetermined distance defined by the stop means at least during installation of the cartridge into the gun to enable an ear lobe to be inserted between the stud and the clasp, the first stop means being frangible upon a pre-firing operation of the gun to allow the stop means to move beyond each other and the two members to move together closer than the predetermined distance in order to locate the ear lobe during a firing operation of the gun.

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   7. A disposable cartridge according to Claim 6 wherein the recess has a longitudinal extent in the direction of relative motion between the two members which is large enough to enable the first stop means to be displaced into the recess when it is broken upon operation of the gun.

   8. A disposable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first stop means is adapted to be fractured and displaced during operation of the gun, but still at least partially joined to the first member.

   9. A disposable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stud-holding member is adapted for use with a stud having a relatively wide body portion and a relatively narrow pin portion which in use pierces the ear, the stud-holding member having stud guide means at its inward end which is disposed in use adjacent the ear. which stud guide means guides the pin portion of the stud.

   1 10. A disposable cartridge according to Claim 9 wherein the stud guide means comprises a frangible guide element which in use breaks away from the stud-holding member.

   11. A disposable cartridge according to Claim 10 wherein the frangible guide element has a membrane which encloses the pin portion in a blind passage defined in the frangible guide element, the pin portion piercing the membrane when the gun is used.

   12. A disposable cartridge according to Claims 9 or 10 wherein the frangible guide element comprises a bow formation having two arms, a blind passage being defined at the central region of the bow formation whereby the pin element takes the form of an arrow being guided by and passing through the passage in the bow.

   13. A disposable cartridge for an ear piercing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

   14. Ear piercing apparatus fitted with a cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims.

   _'18 - 15. Ear piercing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

   16. A method of piercing an ear comprising the steps of taking a cartridge according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 and placing it in an ear piercing apparatus; manipulating the apparatus so that an ear to be pierced is disposed between the clasp-holding member and the stud-holding member, and firing the apparatus to pierce the ear, there being no member- separating operation prior to insertion of the ear between the members.

   17. A method of piercing an ear substantially as 1 hereinbefore described with re;ference to any one of the accompanying drawings 1 Published 1991 at The Patent Office. State House. 66/71 High Holburn. London WC I R47?. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6, Nine Mile Point. Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray, Kent.