GB2298367A

GB2298367A - Device for inserting a decorative stud into the body

Info

Publication number: GB2298367A
Application number: GB9504130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Osvaldo Aurelio Tirelli; Maria Tirelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-01
Filing date: 1995-03-01
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-01
Also published as: GB2298367B; GB2319459B; GB9504130D0; GB9802370D0; GB2319459A

Abstract

A device for inserting a stud through a part of the human body, particularly the nose, comprises a first jaw 24 and a slidable resilient second jaw 29 . In use, the body part is inserted between the jaws 24 , 29 and ring 16 is manually retracted resulting in retraction of second jaw 29 thus squeezing the body part. Retraction of ring 16 also triggers release of plunger 6 which projects stud 28 through the body part causing the sharp point of stud 28 to engage the resilient second jaw 29 . Jaws 24 , 29 may be detached from the device and discarded after use. Also provided are decorative studs for insertion into the body ( Figs 3 and 4 ), comprising a head ( 40 ) and circumferentially ribbed shaft ( 44 , 45 ), able to resist removal from the body.

Description

DEVICE FOR INSERTING DECORATIVE STUDS INTO PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for inserting decorative studs and the like into parts of the human body, for example the nose or ear lobe.

Background to the Invention It has long been a practice to decorate the body by the insertion of studs and pendants, sometimes jewelled, into different parts of the human body. Ear rings, for example, are worn by piercing the ear lobe and inserting a part of the ear ring through the resultant hole. Changes in fashion have led to an increase in the popularity of the practice of inserting studs through the nostril wall and elsewhere, but the devices currently available for the piercing of ears are not suitable for nostril piercing, except in very skilled hands, since access to the interior of the nostril is much more difficult than to the reverse side of the ear lobe, the thickness of flesh is much less, and greater accuracy is necded to avoid the risk of injury.

In addition, the problem of cross-infection through an imperfectly sterilised piercing instrument has to be taken into account, in view of the dangers of such diseases as AIDS and Hepatitis-B.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a device for inserting a stud through a part of the human body, comprising a first jaw and a second jaw slidable relative thereto whereby said part of the body may be squeezed gently between the jaws, holding means for receiving the head of a stud, the stud having a sharp point projecting therefrom, and means for propelling the holding means through the first jaw whereby the sharp point pierces the body part between the jaws and engages the second jaw.

Preferably, the second jaw is provided with a resilient surface which helps to compress the body part without exerting to great a pressure locally, and which can receive the point of the stud therein to ensure that it fully pierces the body part.

The means for propelling the holding means is preferably a spring-driven piston which held by a trigger mechanism until released by the operator. The trigger release action may be combined with the action of moving the second jaw towards the first to squeeze the body part, so that release occurs exactly when the body part is held with the correct degree of compression.

Preferably, those parts of the device which come into contact with the human body are releasably attached to the device so as to be disposable. In this way sterile new components can be fitted for each new customer, removing any risk of infection through the procedure. For example, the jaws and holding means may be formed as an integral unit which can readily be detached from the device to be discarded after use.

The device of the invention is simple and safe to use, permitting even relatively unskilled operators to insert studs without risk to the customer.

Another aspect of the invention provides a decorative stud for insertion into a part of a human body, for example the nose, comprising a head and shaft extending therefrom, the shaft having adjacent to the free end thereof at least one formation extending radially outwardly thereof and shaped so as to pass through a hole pierced by the free end under the influence of the device of the invention but to resist removal therefrom in use.

The formation preferably consists of a continuous circumferential rib, but it my be discontinuous, for example two diametrically opposed projections. The sides of the or each formation are suitably tapered, and rounded to avoid providing crevices in which contamination may build up. The taper is suitably steeper on the side of the formations or formation facing the head.

The head may be milled or otherwise machined or tooled to be decorative in appearance. Alternatively, or additionally, it may have a decorative stone, for example semi-precious or precious, set into it.

The free end is suitably rounded to provide sufficient or a point to facilitate penetration through the body part, but not so sharp as to cause subsequent damage, when inserted, to other adjacent surfaces of the body, for example the internal membranes of the nostril.

The stud of the invention is especially suited to use as a nose stud, since it does not require a clip to retain it in place.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the device and the stud of the invention: Figure 1 is a sectional diagrammatic side view of the device ready for use; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the jaws of the device, in use; and Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged side elevations of studs according to another aspect of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the device has a barrel 1 with a handle 2 at one end attached to the barrel by means of a screw thread 3. The barrel 1 has a bore therethrough having a larger diameter section 4 at the handle end and a smaller diameter section 5 opening at the opposite end of the barrel. A plunger 6 extends through the bore 4,5 and has at its free end within the handle 2 a head 7 by which it may be pulled outwardly of the bore. Adjacent to its mid-point the plunger has a shoulder portion 8 against which a helical spring 9 can bear. The spring 9 is inserted in the larger diameter portion 4 of the bore to bias the plunger away from thc handle end, a screw plug 10 around the plunger engaging an internal thread II in the end of the bore to hold the spring in position.The spring is tensioned by drawing the head 7 outwardly, and the plunger is locked in the tensioned position by means of a button 12 located in a transverse bore 13 which intersects the larger diameter portion 4. The button 12 has a pin 14 extending therefrom which, when the button is pressed in, engages the shoulder 8 on the plunger.

The end of the barrel 1 remote from the handle 2 is surrounded by a ring 15 from which extend two handles 16 by which the ring may be slid over the barrel rearwardly. The ring is prevented from rotation around the barrel by means of two tabs 17 which extend into opposed grooves 18 in the outer surface of the barrel. One of the grooves has a small bore 19 extending therefrom to intersect with the transverse bore 13. The small bore 19 contains a slidable rod 20 which is engaged at one end by the tab 17 and at the other end engages a conical cam surface 21 on the underside of the button 12.In this way, rearward movement of the handles 16 causes the rod 20 to move rearwardly into engagement with the carn surface 21, camming the button outwardly of the barrel and so releasing the plunger 6 to be driven by the spring 9 away from the handle 2, until the shoulder 8 reaches the end of the larger diameter section 4.

The end face of the barrel is formed with a pair of transverse projections 22 on opposite sides of the opening to the smaller diameter portion 5 of the bore.

The ring 15 is provided with a similar projection 23, all the projections being aligned in the same direction. A replaceable head 24 has correspondingly-shaped grooves formed across its base to enable the head 24 to be a sliding fit on to the end of the barrel and to be held in place by the projections and grooves. The head 24 is formed of a resilient material such as silicone rubber, with a central opening 25 therethrough whose diameter corresponds to that of the smaller diameter por tion 5 of the bore through the barrel. The opening 25 has a slidable carrier 26 fitted into it, the carrier 26 being formed, for example, of a resilient plastics material and having a recess therein into which can be inserted the head of a decorative stud 27, with its pin 28 extending forwardly, but not protruding from the opening 25.

The head 24 also includes a jaw-piece 29 extending therefrom. The jawpiece 29 is integrally formed with the head 24, but has moulded therein a metal insert 30 which is engaged by the projection 23 on the ring 15 and can be pulled thereby. The resilient rubber material surrounding the metal insert provides a cushioned pad 31 opposite the opening 25, and is formed with circumferential grooves 32 around the neck portion of the jaw-piece 29 to permit the material to be compressed as the metal insert 30 is pulled by the ring 15 and slides within the resilient covering. In this way, the pad 31 can be moved closer to the opening 25, by means of the handles 16.

In use, with a new replaceable head 24 fitted to the barrel, the new head containing the stud to be inserted, the spring 9 is tensioned as hereinbefore described, and the pad 31 is positioned behind the portion of the body into which the stud is to be inserted, for example in the nostril, when the nose is to be pierced. The handles 16 are then pulled rearwardly of the barrel, drawing the jawpiece 29 towards the opening 25 and squeezing the flesh of the nostril at the site for piercing. When the correct degree of squeezing has been achieved, the rod 20 releases the button 12, in turn releasing the plunger 6 to move under the influence of the spring 9 forwardly (to the right in the drawings), driving the carrier 26, and with it the stud 27, through the opening 24.The pin 28 of the stud is driven through the flesh 33 of the nose, as may be seen from Figure 2, coming to rest safely in the resilient pad 31, and therefore avoiding any risk of damage to any other part of the nose. The handles 16 can then be released, the resilience of the material of the head 24 causing the jaw-piece 29 to move away from the other jaw constituted by the material surrounding the opening 25, and so permitting the device to be removed from the nose. The head 24 is then removed and discarded, and a fresh head is fitted for the next use.

In order to absorb some of the shock of the shoulder of the plunger striking the end of the larger diameter part 4 of the bore, a resilient insert may be put into the bore, or a resilient pad provided on the external surface of the plug 10.

Referring now to Figure 3, the stud comprises a head 40 with a front surface 41 upon which a decorative pattern is milled (or into which a diamond or other stone may be set), and a shaft 42 extending from the rear of the head. The shaft 42 is generally cylindrical but has at its free end a portion 43 of reduced diameter rounded to assist in piercing but without being sharp and thereby presenting a hazard inside the nostril, for example. A circumferential rib 44 is provided around the shaft adjacent to the portion 43. The rib is tapered on both sides uniformly so as to facilitate introduction to and removal from the nose, the rib being sufficient to resist accidental removal or ejection from the nose.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is essentially identical to that of Figure 3, but has a rib 45 which is more steeply tapered on the side adjacent the head 40 than on the other side, so as to make removal even less likely to occur accidentally, while not affecting the ease of insertion. The taper still permits removal of the stud, when desired.

The stud may be formed of any material which does not harm the body and which is not affected adversely by contact with the body, gold being especially suitable.

It will be understood that, while the invention has been described with reference to the drawings in the context of insertion of a stud into the nose, the de- vice of the invention is not limited to such use.

Claims

1. A device for inserting a stud through a part of the human body, com- prising a first jaw and a second jaw slidable relative thereto whereby said part of the body may be squeezed gently between the jaws, holding means for receiving the head of a stud, the stud having a sharp point projecting therefrom, and means for propelling the holding means through the first jaw whereby the sharp point pierces the body part between the jaws and engages the second jaw.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the second jaw is provided with a resilient surface which helps to compress the body part without exerting to great a pressure locally, and which can receive the point of the stud therein to ensure that it fully pierces the body part.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for propelling the holding means is a spring-driven piston which is held by a trigger mechanism until released by the operator.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the trigger release action is combined with the action of moving the second jaw towards the first to squeeze the body part, so that release occurs exadly when the body part is held with the correct degree of compression.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein those parts of the device which come into contact with the human body are releasably attached to the device so as to be disposable, so that sterile new components can be fitted for each new customer, removing any risk of infection through the procedure.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the jaws and holding means are formed as an integral unit which can readily be detached from the device to be discarded after use.

7. A decorative stud for insertion into a part of a human body, comprising a head and shaft extending therefrom, the shaft having adjacent to the free end thereof at least one formation extending radially outwardly thereof and shaped so as to pass through a hole pierced by the free end under the influence of the device of the invention but to resist removal therefrom in use.

8. A decorative stud according to Claim 7, wherein the formation consists of a continuous circumferential rib.

9. A decorative stud according to Claim 7, wherein the formation consists of a discontinuous circumferential rib.

10. A decorative stud according to Claim 9, wherein the discontinuous rib comprises two diametrically opposed projections.

11. A decorative stud according to any of Claims 7 to 10, wherein the sides of the or each formation are tapered, and rounded to avoid providing crevices in which contamination may build up.

12. A decorative stud according to Claim 11, wherein the taper is steeper on the side of the formations or formation facing the head.

13. A decorative stud according to any of Claims 7 to 12, wherein the head is milled or otherwise machined or tooled to be decorative in appearance.

14. A decorative stud according to any of Claims 7 to 13, wherein the head has a decorative stone, set into it.

15. A decorative stud according to Claim 14, wherein the decorative stone is semi-precious or precious.

16. A decorative stud according to any of Claims 7 to 15, wherein the free end is rounded to provide sufficient a point to facilitate penetration through the body part, but not so sharp as to cause subsequent damage, when inserted, to other adjacent surfaces of the body.

17. A device for inserting a stud through a part of the human body, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

18. A decorative stud for insertion into a part of a human body, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A device for inserting a stud through a part of the human body, comprising a first jaw and a second jaw slidable relative thereto whereby said part of the body may be squeezed gently between the jaws, holding means for receiving the head of a stud, the stud having a sharp point projecting therefrom, and means for propelling the holding means through the first jaw whereby the sharp point pierces the body part between the jaws and engages the second jaw, wherein the second jaw is provided with a resilient surface which can receive the point of the stud therein to ensure that it fully pierces the body part.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the resilient surface helps to compress the body part without exerting too great a pressure locally.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the trigger release action is combined with the action of moving the second jaw towards the first to squeeze the body part, so that release occurs exactly when the body part is held with the correct degree of compression.