GB2300401A

GB2300401A - Disposable clasp holder for use in piercing ears

Info

Publication number: GB2300401A
Application number: GB9612651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Durham
Original assignee: CAFLON INT Ltd
Current assignee: CAFLON INT Ltd
Priority date: 1992-09-22
Filing date: 1992-09-22
Publication date: 1996-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-22
Also published as: GB2270668A; GB9219998D0; AU4748193A; GB9612651D0; GB2300401B; GB2270668B; AU671480B2

Abstract

There is described a disposable clasp holder (18) for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the clasp holder (18) being adapted to be fitted to said other jaw and having a chamfered surface (96) on a face thereof (68) to facilitate the loading of the clasp within the clasp holder. The clasp holder may be gripped by a pair of opposed, laterally-projecting flanges (92, 94) to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the clasp holder with the other jaw without the clasp, held thereby, coming into human contact.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PIERCING EARS The present invention relates to a pack for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with the clasp carried by the other jaw, to a disposable clasp holder for use with such an ear-piercing gun and to a method of affixing in an ear an ear-piercing member employing both a pack and a gun of the aforementioned type.

A conventional method of inserting into a human ear lobe a stud or other ear-piercing member is by means of a projector of the pistol type having a plunger to engage the stud, propulsion means to propel the plunger, means to restrain the plunger against the propulsion means and a trigger by which the user can release the restraining means to allow the plunger and the ear piercing member carried thereby to be propelled against the ear lobe. As ear-piercing commonly results in one or two drops of blood being released from the ear lobe, the use of this conventional method very often results in traces of blood being deposited on to the surfaces of the projector which come into contact with the ear lobe during the ear-piercing operation.Although rigorous washing of the projector after an ear-piercing operation can sometimes remove the blood this does not always take place and traces of blood may remain on the projector from one ear-piercing operation to the next. As a result there is a substantial risk of infection being transmitted from one person to another when using this conventional method.

Furthermore in the past it has been necessary for the person conducting the ear-piercing operation to manually load the projector with both the ear-piercing member and the clasp with which it is to engage. Clearly it would be advantageous in terms of hygiene if the necessity to actually touch those parts of the ear-piercing appratus that come into contact with the ear lobe were removed. This would serve to increase both the sanitary and aseptic nature of the whole ear-piercing operation.

In addition, since most ear-piercing operations are perfomed on the premises of stores that sell earrings for pierced ears by persons having little or no training in the art of ear-piercing, it is important that any such new improved method is simple and easy to use.

Finally, from a commerical aspect it is important that the ear-piercing member and its associated clasp be capable of being displayed in a manner calculated to stimulate interest.

Both the ear-piercing member and the clasp fall within the category of fashion accessories and if they are not packaged and presented in an attractive manner it is unlikely they will be bought by prospective customers who instead will turn to rival products.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pack for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the pack comprising an ear-piercing member and a clasp with which to load the gun, a display panel on which the ear-piercing member and the clasp are adapted to be mounted prior to use, a disposable cover adapted to be fitted to said one of the jaws and a disposable clasp holder adapted to be fitted to said other jaw, the disposable clasp holder being adapted to cooperate with the display panel to enable the clasp to be transferred from the display panel to the clasp holder without coming into human contact. This provides the two fold advantage of preventing traces of blood that remain from one ear-piercing operation to the next coming into contact with the projector and enabling the clasp to be loaded into the clasp holder without being touched by a human hand.

Advantageously the display panel may be adapted to serve as a manipulation tool for loading the plunger means with the ear-piercing member.

Advantageously the disposable clasp holder and disposable cover may be accommodated within the display panel prior to use.

Advantageously the disposable clasp holder may be provided with a chamfered surface on a face of the clasp holder that in use is opposed to the ear lobe to be pierced in order to facilitate the loading of the clasp within the clasp holder.

Advantageously the disposable clasp holder may be provided with at least one flange to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the clasp holder with the said other jaw.

Advantageously the clasp may include an aperture to receive a leading pointing end of the ear-piercing member and the clasp holder may comprise a plate having formed in a first edge thereof a recess releasably to hold the clasp while exposing said aperture and having formed in a second edge a re-entrant by means of which the clasp holder can be engaged with a lug or other extension member of said other jaw of the gun. Preferably the plate may be an elongate substantially rectangular plate of molded plastics material, said recess extending through the thickness of the plate and being formed with two lateral rebates extending longitudinally of the recess.

Advantageously the disposable cover may comprise a substantially annular plastics member having a projecting circular wall surrounding the aperture defined thereby.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a disposable clasp holder for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the clasp holder being adapted to be fitted to said other jaw and having a chamfered surface on a face thereof to facilitate the loading of the clasp within the clasp holder and at least one flange to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the clasp holder with the said other jaw.This provides the two fold advantage of enabling the clasp to be loaded into the clasp holder without being touched by a human hand and enabling the clasp holder to be easily mounted or removed from the said other jaw of the gun.

Advantageously the chamfered surface may be provided on the face of the clasp holder than in use is opposed to the ear lobe to be pierced.

Advantageously the clasp holder may comprise a plate having formed in a first edge thereof a recess releasably to hold the clasp while exposing an aperture provided in the clasp to enable the clasp to receive a leading pointed end of the ear-piercing member and having formed in a second edge a re-entrant by means of which the clasp holder can be engaged with a lug or other extension member of said other jaw of the gun. Preferably the plate may be an elongate substantially rectangular plate of molded plastics material, said recess extending through the thickness of the plate and being formed with two lateral rebates extending longitudinally along the recess.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of affixing in an ear an ear-piercing member, wherein the method employs a pack in accordance with an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention and a gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and a plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, which method includes the steps of fitting the disposable cover to said one of the jaws, loading the plunger means with the ear-piercing member, transferring the clasp from the display panel to the clasp holder without the clasp coming into human contact, mounting the clasp holder on to said other jaw of the gun so that the clasp is carried by the other jaw, disposing an ear lobe to be pierced between the jaws of the gun and projecting the ear-piercing member from said one jaw through the ear lobe into engagement with the clasp. This provides the two fold advantage of preventing any blood that might remain from one ear-piercing operation to the next from coming into contact with the projector and enabling the clasp to be loaded into the clasp holder without being touched by a human hand.

Advantageously the plunger means may be loaded with the ear-piercing member using the display panel as a manipulation tool.

Advantageously the clasp holder may be provided with one or more flanges and be gripped thereby to facilitate the mounting of the clasp holder on to said other jaw of the gun.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the top of a display panel in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the under side of the display panel of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of an ear-piercing member contained within an ear-piercing pack embodying the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a clasp contained within an ear-piercing pack in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a disposable cover contained within an ear-piercing pack in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention;; Figure 6 is an elevational view of a front face of a disposable clasp holder contained within an ear-piercing pack in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 7 is an elevational view of the back face of the disposable clasp holder of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the disposable clasp holder of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a plan view of an upper end surface of the disposable clasp holder of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a view of a lower end surface of the disposable clasp holder of Figure 6; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the disposable clasp holder of Figure 6 taken along the line X-X shown in Figure 7; Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of an assembled ear-piercing pack in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; and Figure 13 is a schematic view of a projector used in a method in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the ear-piercing pack can be seen to comprise a display panel 10, one or more ear-piercing members 12, a corresponding number of clasps 14, a disposable cover 16 and a disposable clasp holder 18.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 the display panel 10 comprises a substantially rectangular display surface 20, a depending transverse rib 22 and a depending side wall 24. The depending rib 22 and side wall 24 define between them a cavity 26 toward the rear of the display panel 10 and beneath the display surface 20 that extends substantially two thirds of the length of the display panel 10. At a forwardly projecting end 28 of the display panel 10 the upper surface 20 is provided with one or more inwardly-directed, substantially triangular notches 30 while toward the rear there are formed a corresponding number of recesses 32, each countersunk from the display 20 and comprising two rectangular indentations 34 and 36 disposed in end to end relationship separated by a narrow wall 38.Beneath the display surface 20 a respective boss 40 is aligned with the apex of each of the triangular notches 30 and provided with a further notch 42 which communicates with that with which the boss 40 is aligned.

A typical ear-piercing member 12 is shown in Figure 3 to comprise a shaft 44 having an enlarged head 46 at one end and a point 48 at the other. Likewise a typical clasp 14 is shown in Figure 4 to comprise a disk 50 having a central aperture 52 and two diametrically oppositely disposed arcuate spring portions 54 and 55 that extend rearwardly from the perimeter of the disk 50 to terminate close to the aperture 52.

The disposable cover 16 is shown in Figure 5 to comprise an annular member 56 having on one surface 58 an upstanding circular wall 60 that surrounds the central aperture 62.

Finally, the disposable clasp holder 18 is shown in Figures 6 to 11 to comprise a substantially rectangular body portion 64 having opposed front and back faces 66 and 68, upper and lower surfaces 70 and 72 and opposed side surfaces 74 and 76. The body portion 64 is hollow and is provided in its upper end surface 70 with a transverse slot 78 that communicates with the interior of the body portion 64 as well as with an elongate cutaway portion 80 provided in the front face 66, the cutaway portion 80 extending from the centre of an upper edge 82 of the front face 56 downwardly to a point approximately two thirds of the height of the body portion 64.

The transverse slot 78 also communicates with a similar elongate cutaway portion 84 provided in the back face 68, the second cutaway portion 84 being in alignment with the first 80 and extending from the centre of an upper edge 86 of the back face 68 downwardly to a point, again, approximately two thirds of the height of the body portion 64.

In addition to the first cutaway portion 80, the front face 66 is also provided with an arched re-entrant 88 that extends from a lower edge 90 thereof 90 to a point approximately one third of the height of the body portion 64.

This re-entrant 88, like the transverse slot 78 and the two cutaway portions 80 and 84, also communicates with the interior of the body portion 64.

Again at a lower edge, this time of the two sides surfaces 74 and 76, the body portion 64 is provided with two opposed projecting lugs or flanges 92 and 94.

Finally, toward the upper edge 86, the back face 68 is provided with a chamfered surface 96 so that when viewed from the side the body portion 64 tapers towards the upper end surface 70.

Prior to use the ear-piercing pack is assembled in sterile conditions in such a way that an ear-piercing member 12 is held by the display panel 10 at the apex of each of a respective one of the substantially triangular notches 30. In this position, shown in Figure 12, each ear-piercing member 12 is disposed to substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display surface 10 so that its enlarged head 46 is visible to prospective purchasers and its shaft is engaged by the sides of both of the substantially triangular notch 30 and the further notch 42 with which it communicates. To this are added one or more clasps 14 each of which are held by the display panel 10 in a respective one of the recesses 32, the arcuate spring portions 54 and 55 being received and retained within the rectangular indentations 34 and 36. Finally, to complete the assembly of the pack a disposable cover 16 and a disposable clasp holder 18 are accommodated within the cavity 26 beneath the display surface 20. In this way the assembled pack maybe packaged and presented in an attractive manner with the ear-piercing members and associated clasps displayed in such a way as to stimulate interest in a prospective purchaser. At the same time the less attractive disposable items, which in the past have tended to clutter such packs, such as the cover 16 and the clasp holder 18 are hidden from view.

To insert an ear-piercing member 12 of the assembled pack into an ear requires the use of a projector such as that of the pistol type shown in Figure 13. In general terms the projector 100 comprises a pistol grip handle 102, a cylindrical plunger 104 having a coaxial recess 106 at a muzzle end thereof and an enlarged projection 108 at a rear end thereof, a fixed jaw 110 having an arcuate cut away portion 112 that defines in excess of 18010 of a circle and has a forward face 114, a trigger 116, and second jaw 118 disposed forwardly of the fixed jaw 110 and which is moveable with the trigger 116 toward the fixed jaw 110.

Using a projector such as that illustrated an ear may be pierced in accordance with the folowing method: The earlobe to be pierced is first cleansed with an antiseptic. The pack is then opened and the disposable cover 16 and clasp holder 18 removed from the cavity 26. Next the disposable cover 16 is engaged with the fixed jaw 110 of the projector 100 in such a way that the said one surface 58 abuts the forward face 114 and the upstanding circular wall 60 is received within the arcuate cutaway portion 112, the two being so sized as to provide a retaining engagement. With the disposable cover 16 in engagement with the fixed jaw 110 the display panel 10 is then presented to the muzzle end of the plunger 104 taking care to hold the display panel 10 by the depending side wall 24.The enlarged head 46 of an ear-piercing member 12 is inserted into the coaxial recess 106 with which it is a close push fit before the display panel 10 is then withdrawn in such a way that the shaft 44 of the ear-piercing member 12 is disengaged from the sides of both the substantially triangular notch 30 and the further notch 42. As the display panel 10 continues to be lifted away from the projector 100 in a direction substantially parallel to that of the triangular notches 30 care is taken so as not to remove the enlarged head 46 from the coaxial recess 106.

Holding the disposable clasp holder 18 by the opposed projecting lugs 92 and 94, the back face 68 of the body portion 64 is presented to the display panel 10 close to one of the recesses 32 provided in display surface 20. As the elongate cutaway portions 80 and 84 are aligned with and moved towards the rectangular indentations 34 and 36, the chamfered surface 96 provided toward the upper edge 86 of the back face 68 cooperates with the countersunk region surrounding the recess 32 to introduce the clasp 14 to the transverse slot 78 provided in the upper end surface 70.Having been received within the transverse slot 78, the clasp 14 is then disengaged from the display panel 10 and occupies a position within the clasp holder 18 in which the disk 50 is contained within the transverse slot 78, the central aperture 52 is visible through the first cutaway portion 80 provided the front face 66, and the spring portions 54 and 55 project from the second cutaway portion 84 provided in the back face 68. The clasp holder 18 is then presented to the projector 100 with the front face 66 directed toward the plunger 104 in such a way that the moveable jaw 118 is received within the arched re-entrant 88 and is engaged thereby. The projector 100 is then cocked by pulling the plunger 104 rearwardly with the aid of the enlarged projection 108 against a propulsion means (not shown).

The cocked projector 100 is then presented to the ear lobe to be pierced and the lobe located between the two jaws 110 and 118. Initial rearward pressure on the trigger 116 causes the moveable jaw 118 to move toward the fixed jaw 110 until the ear lobe is sandwiched between the disposable cover 16 and the disposable clasp holder 18. Further rearward pressure on the trigger 116 causes the plunger 104 to be released and propelled toward the ear lobe under the action of the propulsion means carrying with it the ear-piercing member 12 whose pointed end 14 pierces the ear lobe and engages with the central aperture 52 of the clasp 14.

The rearward pressure on the trigger 116 is then released allowing the two jaws 110 and 118 to move apart and so release the ear lobe.

Finally, the disposable cover 16 and clasp holder 18 are removed from the projector 100 with, in the case of the clasp holder 18, the aid of the opposed projecting lugs 92 and 94.

The disposable cover 16 and clasp holder 18 are then discarded leaving the projector 100 ready for the next ear-piercing operation.

In this way any drops of blood that might be released from the ear lobe during the piercing operation are prevented from coming into contact with the projector 100 or any part thereof by virtue of the disposable cover 16 and clasp holder 18. Likewise, the projector 100 is loaded with both the ear-piercing member 12 and on the clasp 14 with which it is to engage without the necessity of either to be touched by a human hand.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that whilst the foregoing apparatus and method have been described with reference to the piercing of a human ear, the apparatus and method may equally be employed to affix an ear-piercing member in the ear of an animal.

Claims

1. A disposable clasp holder for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the clasp holder being adapted to be fitted to said other jaw and having a chamfered surface on a face thereof to facilitate the loading of the clasp within the clasp holder and at least one flange to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the clasp holder with the said other jaw.

2. A disposable clasp holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the chamfered surface is provided on a face of the clasp holder that in use is opposed to the ear lobe to be pierced.

3. A disposable clasp holder in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clasp holder comprises a plate having formed in a first edge thereof a recess to releasably hold the clasp while exposing an aperture provided in the clasp to enable the clasp to receive a leading pointed end of the ear-piercing member and having formed a second edge a re-entrant by means of which the clasp holder can be engaged with a lug or other extension member of said other jaw of the gun.

4. A disposable clasp holder in accordance with claim 3, wherein the plate is an elongate substantially rectangular plate of molded plastics material, said recess extending through the thickness of the plate and being formed with two lateral rebates extending longitudinally of the recess.

5. A disposable clasp holder for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means to be adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the clasp holder being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A pack for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the pack comprising an ear-piercing member and clasp with which to load the gun, a display panel on which the ear-piercing member and the clasp are adapted to be mounted prior to use, a disposable cover adapated to be fitted to said one of the jaws and a disposable clasp holder adapted to be fitted to said other jaw, the disposable clasp holder being adapted to cooperate with the display panel to enable the clasp to be transferred from the display panel to the clasp holder without coming into human contact.

7. A pack in accordance with claim 6, wherein the display panel is adapted to serve as a manipulation tool for loading the plunger means with the ear-piercing member.

8. A pack in accordance with claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the disposable clasp holder and disposable cover are accommodated within the display panel prior to use.

9. A pack in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the disposable clasp holder is provided with a chamfered surface on a face of the clasp holder that in use is opposed to the ear lobe to be pierced in order to facilitate the loading of the clasp within the clasp holder.

10. A pack in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the disposable clasp holder is provided with at least one flange to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the clasp holder with the said other jaw.

11. A pack in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the clasp includes an aperture to receive a leading pointed end of the ear-piercing member and the clasp holder comprises a plate having formed in a first edge thereof a recess releasably to hold the clasp while exposing said aperture having formed in a second edge a re-entrant by means of which the clasp holder can be engaged with a lug or other extension member of said other jaw of the gun.

12. A pack in accordance with claim 11, wherein the plate is an elongate substantially rectangular plate of molded plastics material, said recess extending through the thickness of the plate and being formed with two lateral rebates extending longitudinally of the recess.

13. A pack in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the disposable cover comprises a substantially annular plastic member having a projecting circular wall surrounding the aperture defined thereby.

14. A pack for use with an ear-piercing gun of the type having a pair of jaws between which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, the pack being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of affixing in an ear an ear-piercing member, wherein the method employs a pack in accordance with any of claims 6 to 14 and a gun of the type having a pair of jaws in which to dispose an ear lobe to be pierced and a plunger means adapted to be loaded with an ear-piercing member for projecting the ear-piercing member from one of the jaws, through the ear lobe and into engagement with a clasp carried by the other jaw, which method includes the steps of fitting the disposable cover to said one of the jaws, loading the plunger means with the ear-piercing member, transferring the clasp from the display panel to the clasp holder without the clasp coming into human contact, mounting the clasp holder on to said other jaw of the gun so that the clasp is carried by that jaw, disposing an ear lobe to be pierced between the jaws of the gun and projecting the ear-piercing member from said one jaw through the ear lobe and into engagement with the clasp.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the plunger means is loaded with the ear-piercing member using the display panel as a manipulation tool.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the clasp holder is provided with one or more flanges and is gripped thereby to facilitate the mounting of the clasp holder on to said other jaw of the gun.

18. A method of affixing in an ear an ear-piercing member, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.