Integrated disposable ear piercing earring and clutch cartridge and ear piercing instrument for use therewith

Abstract

An ear piercing assembly includes a disposable cartridge assembly including a first and second ear piercing earring and an ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly for releaseably supporting the ear piercing earring therein. A clutch retaining sub-assembly is integrally formed with the ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly and releaseably supports a first and second clutch therein. An ear piercing instrument is adapted to receive the cartridge assembly and includes a plunger assembly for ejecting an ear piercing earring from the ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly and is displaceable for selectively moving between a first position for ejecting the first ear piercing earring from the ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly and a second position for ejecting the second ear piercing earring from the ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An ear piercing cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly comprising a first and second ear piercing earring; ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releasably supporting both said ear piercing earrings, said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means including a casing having a bore therethrough; a bullet cartridge means for maintaining an ear piercing earring therein, said bullet cartridge means being slidably disposed within said bore to allow movement between a first position and a second position within said bore; a first and second clutch; clutch retaining sub-assembly means integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releaseably supporting both of said clutches, a floor disposed between said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly forming a protective shield and said clutch retaining sub-assembly forming a saddle region therein; clamp means disposed on said floor for being moved between a first position and a second position, the clamp means clamping an earlobe disposed within said saddle region against said clutch retaining sub-assembly means at said second position; ear piercing instrument means for supporting said cartridge assembly thereon, said ear piercing instrument means including a plunger assembly means supporting said cartridge assembly for ejecting an ear piercing sub-assembly means  earring from said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means; displacement means for selectively moving said plunger assembly means between a first position for ejecting said first ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining means and a second position for ejecting said second ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining means; said plunger assembly means including a plunger assembly housing, a push rod disposed within said plunger assembly housing for ejecting said ear piercing earring, displacement of said push rod ejecting said ear piercing earring; said plunger assembly housing rotating about said plunger to selectively move said push rod between said first position for ejecting said first ear piercing earring and said second position for ejecting said second ear piercing earring; clamp activation means for moving said clamp means from said first position; said clamp activation means including said plunger, said plunger causing said clamp to provide a pressure against an earlobe; pressure compensation means for compensating the amount of pressure to be applied by said plunger; said plunger assembly means further comprising retraction means for returning said bullet cartridge means from said second position to said first position; and earring length compensation means for controlling the amount of displacement of said push rod in response to the length of the ear piercing earring being ejected by said push rod. 
     
     
       2. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said clamp activation means moves the clamp means to said second position prior to said plunger assembly means ejecting an ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining means. 
     
     
       3. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said bullet cartridge means includes a first half wall and a second half wall joined to said first half wall by a hinge formed at a rear portion thereof; an opening being formed in a rear surface of said bullet cartridge means and said retraction activation means including said push rod, said push rod being formed with a groove therein and a hook being rotatably supported within said groove for engaging a rear wall of said bullet cartridge means. 
     
     
       4. An ear piercing cartridge assembly comprising: a first and second ear piercing earring; ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releasably supporting both said ear piercing earrings; a first and second clutch; clutch retaining sub-assembly means integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releaseably supporting both of said clutches. 
     
     
       5. The ear piercing cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means includes a bore extending therethrough; bullet cartridge means slidably disposed within said bore, an ear piercing earring being disposed within said bullet cartridge means, said bullet cartridge means being formed of a first half wall and a second half wall, said ear piercing earring being ejected from said bullet cartridge means during ear piercing, said first half wall being affixed to said second half wall at the rear portion of said bullet cartridge means in the ejection direction. 
     
     
       6. The ear piercing cartridge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a hinge is formed between said first half wall and said second half wall at the rear portion of said bullet cartridge means, each half wall having a radial configuration progressing towards the forward portion of said bullet cartridge means in the ejection direction forming a ramp at the front portion of said bullet cartridge means, said ear piercing earring contacting said ramp causing said half walls to separate releasing said ear piercing earring during ejection. 
     
     
       7. The ear piercing cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a floor, said floor being disposed between said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means and said clutch retaining sub-assembly means forming a saddle region in said cartridge assembly; and clamp means integrally formed with said floor, said clamp means being movable between a first position and a second position, said clamp means clamping an earlobe disposed within said saddle region against said clutch retaining sub-assembly means when said clamp means is in said second position. 
     
     
       8. An ear piercing earring cartridge assembly comprising a first and second  an ear piercing earring; ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means  for releaseably supporting both  said ear piercing earrings  earring; a first and second  clutch; a clutch retaining sub-assembly means  for releaseably supporting both  said clutches  clutch; a floor disposed between said ear piercing earring sub-assembly means  and said clutch sub-assembly means  forming a saddle region therein; and a clamp means  movable from a first position to a second position for clamping an earlobe disposed within said saddle region,  against said clutch retaining sub-assembly means  when said clamping means  clamp is in said second position. 
     
     
       9. The ear piercing earring cartridge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said clamp means  includes a pivotable clamp and a hinge disposed between said floor and said pivotable clamp, said pivotable clamp moving about said hinge between said first position and said second position. 
     
     
       10. An ear piercing cartridge assembly comprising a first and second ear piercing earring; ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releasably supporting both said ear piercing earrings; a first and second clutch; clutch retaining sub-assembly means integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releaseably supporting both of said clutches; a floor, said floor being disposed between said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means and said clutch retaining sub-assembly means forming a saddle region therebetween; clamp means integrally formed with said floor, said clamp means being movable between a first position and a second position, said clamp means clamping an earlobe disposed within said saddle region against said clutch retaining sub-assembly means when said clamp means is in said second position. 
     
     
       11. The ear piercing cartridge assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means includes a bore extending therethrough; bullet cartridge means slidably disposed within said bore, an ear piercing earring being disposed within said bullet cartridge means, said bullet cartridge means being formed of a first half wall and a second half wall, said ear piercing earring being ejected from said bullet cartridge means during ear piercing, said first half wall being affixed to said second half wall at the rear of said bullet cartridge means in the ejection direction. 
     
     
       12. An ear piercing assembly comprising a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly including a first and second ear piercing earring; ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releasably supporting both said ear piercing earrings; a first and second clutch; clutch retaining sub-assembly means integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means for releaseably supporting both of said clutches; and ear piercing instrument means for supporting said cartridge assembly thereon, said ear piercing instrument means including a plunger assembly means supported within said ear piercing instrument means for ejecting an ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means; and displacement means for selectively moving said plunger assembly means between a first position for ejecting said first ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining means and a second position for ejecting said second ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means. 
     
     
       13. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said plunger assembly means includes a plunger assembly housing, a push rod disposed within said plunger assembly housing for ejecting said ear piercing earring. 
     
     
       14. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said plunger assembly means further comprises a plunger disposed within said plunger assembly housing, said plunger assembly housing rotating about said plunger to selectively move said push rod between said first position for ejecting said first ear piercing earring and said second position for ejecting said second ear piercing earring. 
     
     
       15. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said cartridge assembly includes a floor disposed between said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly and said clutch retaining sub-assembly forming a saddle region therein; clamp means disposed on said floor for being moved between a first position and a second position, the clamp means clamping an earlobe disposed within said saddle region against said clutch retaining sub-assembly means at said second position; and said plunger assembly means including clamp activation means for moving said clamp means from said first position. 
     
     
       16. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said clamp means includes a clamp and a flexible hinge, said flexible hinge being disposed between said floor and said clamp and said clamp activation means includes said plunger. 
     
     
       17. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said plunger causes said clamp to provide a pressure against an earlobe and further comprising pressure compensation means for compensating the amount of pressure to be applied by said clamp. 
     
     
       18. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said pressure compensation means includes a spring coupled to said plunger. 
     
     
       19. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said ear piercing instrument means is formed with a front wall, an anvil and a floor disposed therebetween forming a saddle region therebetween, said cartridge assembly being disposed within said saddle region, and further comprising a catch formed in said saddle region and ramped surfaces formed on said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means cooperating with said catch for releasably maintaining said cartridge assembly within said saddle region. 
     
     
       20. The  An ear piercing cartridge assembly of  claim 19 , further  comprising ejecting means  a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly comprising an ear piercing earring; an ear piercing earring retaining subassembly for releasably supporting said ear piercing earring; a clutch; a clutch retaining subassembly integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly for releasably supporting said clutch; a floor disposed between said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly and said clutch retaining subassembly forming a first saddle region therein; an ear piercing instrument for supporting said cartridge assembly thereon, said ear piercing instrument including a plunger assembly supporting said cartridge assembly for ejecting said ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly; and a cartridge assembly ejector for ejecting said cartridge assembly from said ear piercing instrument means . 
     
     
       21. The ear piercing instrument  cartridge assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said ejection means  cartridge assembly ejector includes a substantially U-shaped member slidably disposed within said ear piercing instrument having a first contact arm and a second contact arm for contacting said cartridge assembly, a button, each of said contact arms being integrally formed with said button and a biasing means  member for biasing said contact arms away from said cartridge assembly, said contact arms causing said catch to release said ramp surfaces. 
     
     
       22. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said cartridge assembly includes a floor disposed between said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly and said clutch retaining sub-assembly forming a saddle region therein; clamp means disposed on said floor for being moved between a first position and a second position, the clamp means clamping an earlobe disposed within said saddle region against said clutch retaining sub-assembly means at said second position; and said plunger assembly means including clamp activation means for moving said clamp means from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
       23. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said clamp activation means moves the clamp means to said second position prior to said plunger assembly means ejecting an ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means. 
     
     
       24. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising cartridge assembly ejecting means for ejecting said cartridge assembly from said ear piercing instrument means. 
     
     
       25. The ear piercing instrument of  claim 24 , wherein said ejection means includes a substantially U-shaped member slidably disposed within said ear piercing instrument having a first contact arm and a second contact arm for contacting said cartridge assembly, a button, each of said contact arms being integrally formed with said button and biasing means for biasing said contact arms away from said cartridge assembly. 
     
     
       26. The  An ear piercing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein  comprising a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly including a piercing earring; an ear piercing earring retaining sub- assembly for releasably supporting said ear piercing earring; an ear piercing instrument for supporting said cartridge assembly thereon, said ear piercing instrument including a plunger assembly supported within a housing for ejecting said ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly, said ear piercing retaining assembly  means includes  including a casing having a bore therethrough; a bullet cartridge means  for maintaining an  said ear piercing earring therein, said bullet cartridge means  being slidably disposed within said bore to allow movement between a first position and a second position within said bore, said plunger assembly means  further comprising a retraction means  assembly for returning said bullet cartridge means  from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
       27. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said ear piercing instrument includes a front wall, an anvil and a floor disposed therebetween forming a saddle region within said ear piercing instrument, said cartridge assembly including a floor disposed between said clutch cartridge retaining sub-assembly means and said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means forming a saddle region therebetween, the saddle region of said cartridge assembly being dimensioned to be coextensive with the saddle region of said ear piercing instrument, shielding said ear piercing instrument from contamination during ear piercing. 
     
     
       28. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said ear piercing earring retaining sub-assembly means includes a casing having a bore therethrough; bullet cartridge means for maintaining an ear piercing earring therein, said bullet cartridge means being slidably disposed within said bore to allow movement between a first position and a second position within said bore, said plunger assembly means further comprising retraction means for returning said bullet cartridge means from said second position to said first position. 
     
     
       29. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said bullet cartridge means includes a first half wall and a second half wall, a hinge joining said first half wall to said second half wall at a rear portion thereof; an opening formed in a rear surface of said bullet cartridge means and said retraction activation means including said push rod, said push rod being formed with a groove therein and a hook being rotatably supported within said groove for engaging a rear wall of said bullet cartridge means at said opening. 
     
     
       30. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising biasing means for biasing said hook to extend out from said groove. 
     
     
       31. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said displacement means includes a plunger plug having a first end coupled with said plunger assembly housing, a rotatable knob disposed within said ear piercing instrument, a second end of said plunger plug being operatively coupled to said knob. 
     
     
       32. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein displacement of said push rod ejects said ear piercing earrings from said cartridge assembly and further comprising earring length compensation means for controlling the amount of displacement of said push rod in response to the length of the ear piercing earring being ejected by said push rod. 
     
     
       33. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 32 , wherein said earring length compensation means includes a spring coupled to said push rod. 
     
     
       34. The ear piercing instrument of  claim 19 , wherein said earring length compensation means includes a spring coupled to said push rod. 
     
     
       35. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said ear piercing instrument means includes a platform extending within said saddle region, a keeper integrally formed with said platform said keeper extending through said floor in preventing movement of said cartridge assembly during piercing. 
     
     
       36. An ear piercing instrument for ejecting an ear piercing earring from a cartridge assembly comprising a housing adapted to receive said cartridge assembly; plunger assembly means supported within said housing for ejecting an ear piercing earring from said cartridge assembly, said plunger assembly means including a push rod displaceable for ejecting an earring from said cartridge, and earring length compensation means for controlling the displacement distance of said push rod in response to the length of the ear piercing earring being ejected by said push rod. 
     
     
       37. An ear piercing cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly comprising an ear piercing earring; an ear piercing earring retaining subassembly for releasably supporting said ear piercing earring; a clutch; a clutch retaining subassembly for releasably supporting said clutch, an ear piercing instrument including a push rod for ejecting said ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly; said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly and clutch retaining subassembly being mounted on said ear piercing instrument and a pressure compensator for compensating the amount of pressure to be applied by said push rod in response to the length of the ear piercing earring being ejected by said push rod.  
     
     
       38. An ear piercing assembly comprising a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly comprising an ear piercing earring; an ear piercing earring retainer subassembly for releasably supporting said ear piercing earring; a clutch; a clutch retainer subassembly integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly for releasably supporting said clutch, a floor disposed between said ear piercing earring subassembly and said clutch retaining subassembly for forming a saddle region therein; a clamp disposed on said floor movable between a first position and a second position, the clamp clamping an ear lobe disposed within said saddle region against said clutch retaining subassembly at said second position; an ear piercing instrument for supporting said cartridge assembly thereon, said ear piercing instrument including a plunger assembly supporting said cartridge assembly for ejecting said ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly; a clamp activator for moving said clamp from said first position; said clamp activator including a plunger, said plunger causing said clamp to provide a pressure against an ear lobe; and a pressure compensator for compensating the amount of pressure to be applied by said plunger in response to the length of the ear piercing earring being ejected by said plunger assembly.  
     
     
       39. An ear piercing assembly comprising a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly including an ear piercing earring; an ear piercing earring retaining sub- assembly for releasably supporting said ear piercing earring; a clutch; a clutch retaining sub - assembly integrally formed with said ear piercing earring retaining sub - assembly for releasably supporting said clutch; said ear piercing earring retaining sub - assembly including a casing having a bore therethrough; a bullet cartridge for maintaining said ear piercing earring therein, said bullet cartridge being slidably disposed within said bore to allow movement between a first position and a second position within said bore; an ear piercing instrument for supporting said cartridge assembly thereon, said ear piercing instrument including a plunger assembly supported within said ear piercing instrument for ejecting said ear piercing earring from said ear piercing earring retaining sub - assembly; said plunger assembly including a plunger assembly housing, a push rod disposed within said plunger assembly housing for ejecting said ear piercing earring; said plunger assembly further comprising a retractor for returning said bullet cartridge from said second position to said first position.    
     
     
       40. The ear piercing assembly of  claim 39 , wherein said bullet cartridge includes a first half wall and a second half wall, a hinge joining said first half wall to said second half wall at a rear portion thereof; an opening formed in a rear surface of said bullet cartridge and said retractor including said push rod, said push rod being formed with a groove therein and a hook being rotatably supported within said groove for engaging a rear wall of said bullet cartridge at said opening.  
     
     
       41. The ear piercing cartridge assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said ear piercing instrument includes a second saddle region, said cartridge assembly being disposed within said second saddle region, and further comprising a catch formed in said second saddle region and ramped surfaces formed on said ear piercing earring retaining subassembly cooperating with said catch for releasably maintaining said cartridge assembly within said second saddle region.