WO2011101690A1

WO2011101690A1 - Needle bar support

Info

Publication number: WO2011101690A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/050341
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Harry Cutter
Original assignee: NEEDLE RUNNER Ltd
Current assignee: NEEDLE RUNNER Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-22
Filing date: 2011-02-22
Publication date: 2011-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-22
Also published as: GB201002880D0; GB2478017A; GB201011927D0

Abstract

A needle bar support (26) for a tattoo machine needle holder comprises a resilient elongate cylindrical body (28) having a central bore (30) for engaging around a needle bar (14, Fig 10) and a longitudinal slit (32) extending to the central bore (30), the needle bar support (26) being adapted to detachably mount onto the needle bar (14, Fig 10) and slide into the tube (18, Fig 10) of a tattoo machine needle holder, the central bore (30) engaging the needle bar (14, Fig 10).

Description

NEEDLE BAR SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a needle bar support and more particularly to a needle bar support for a tattoo machine needle holder.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

A typical tattoo machine 10, as shown in prior art Figures 1 to 4 and 10, has a drive means 12 for reciprocating a needle bar 14 and needle 34. The drive means 12 includes a pair of coils, which drive an oscillating armature bar 16. Other drive means known in the art include rotary drives and neuma drives. The back end of the needle bar 14 is provided with a hook, which is located on the armature bar 16. The needle bar 14 typically extends through free space initially and then through a tube 18 to the tip 20 of the tattoo machine. Grip means 22 is provided around the tube 18 and enables the tattoo machine to be held, in use. In order to secure the needle bar 14, an elastic band 24 extends around the needle bar 14 and around the body of the machine.

One common problem with typical tattoo machines 10 as described above is that the elastic band 24 tends to create a lateral force on the needle bar 14, ie to one side of the needle bar. This tends to bend the back end of the needle bar 14 towards the drive means 22 and prevents it from running true. Furthermore, the lateral force produced by the elastic band 24 reduces the efficiency of the drive means 12, forcing the drive means 12 to work harder and therefore reducing the life span of components of the tattoo machine 10.

During the tattooing process, the tattoo machine 10 drives the needle bar 14 back and forth and pushes ink into the skin. It is not uncommon for bleeding to occur during tattooing and the movement of the needle bar 14 can cause blood to travel up the needle bar 14 and through the tube 18 of the tattoo machine 10. One of the disadvantages with the typical tattoo machine 10 shown, is that when blood reaches the rubber band 24, the vibration causes blood to become airborne and presents a health and safety hazard due to the risks of pathogens and cross contamination. In fact, some health authorities in UK require rubber bands 24 to be changed after a single use. It is an object of the invention to provide a needle bar support for a tattoo machine needle holder which substantially mitigates or reduces these problems. STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a needle bar support comprising a resilient elongate cylindrical body having a central bore for engaging around a needle bar, and a longitudinal slit extending to the central bore, the needle bar support being adapted to detachably mount onto a needle bar and slide into a tube of a tattoo machine needle holder, the central bore engaging the needle bar.

The needle bar support is advantageous because it negates the need to use an elastic band on a tattoo machine. When in use, the needle bar support stabilises the needle bar within the tube and acts as a guide to keep the needle bar central to the tip, grip, and tube of the tattoo machine needle holder. The needle bar support allows the needle bar to maintain a straight profile and to run true. In other words, the removal of the elastic band stops the needle bar being bent. Furthermore, the needle bar support helps to increase the efficiency and the working life of the tattoo machine since there is no lateral force, created by the elastic band, acting against the reciprocating movement of the needle bar.

Another advantage of the needle bar support is that it improves the hygiene of the tattoo machine, in use. This is because the needle bar support substantially closes an opening at a rear end of the tube and substantially prevents blood and contaminated ink from exiting the rear of the tube. In other words, back splatter from the tattoo machine needle holder is prevented. The opportunity for blood and/or ink to become airborne is greatly reduced as the rubber band is no longer required and fluid is substantially prevented from leaving the rear of the tube.

The needle bar support can be used on a variety of tattoo machines, therefore a user can utilise the needle bar support without having to change his/her preferred choice of tattoo machine. When detachment of the needle bar support is required, for example, for disinfection or for fitting the needle bar support onto a different needle bar, the user simply needs to unclip the needle bar support from the needle bar. The exact position of the needle bar support on the needle bar is adjustable to suit different tattoo machines. The needle bar support can be made from plastics, such as polypropylene, or other suitable material.

Advantageously, the longitudinal slit may extend the whole length of the resilient elongate cylindrical body. The needle bar support may be adapted to be clipped onto the needle bar. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a needle bar for supporting a needle of a tattoo machine, the needle bar comprising an attachment means at one end thereof for communication with a drive means of the tattoo machine, and being prefabricated with a substantially cylindrical member disposed about and attached to the needle bar for engagement in a tube of the tattoo machine. The substantially cylindrical member may be adapted to be received in and to oscillate within a tube of a tattoo machine

The cylindrical member substantially prevents blood and ink from travelling out of the tube and provides similar advantages to the needle bar support as described in the first aspect of the invention. In view of the fact that there is no longitudinal slit, the needle bar with integral or pre-attached member is more effective. Providing the needle bar with the cylindrical member attached allows for easy maintenance and easy disinfection of the needle bar. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a tattoo machine comprising a tattoo machine needle holder, the tattoo machine needle holder comprising a coaxially mounted tip, grip, and tube, and an elongate needle bar for supporting a needle, the needle bar extending through the grip, tip and tube, and a needle bar support in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a tattoo machine comprising a tattoo machine needle holder, the tattoo machine needle holder having a coaxially mounted tip, grip, and tube, and a needle bar in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a tattoo machine known in the art;

Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a needle holder, needle bar, and rubber bands of the tattoo machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic see through view of the needle holder, needle bar, and rubber bands of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the needle bar Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a needle bar support of the invention adapted to fit the tattoo machine of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the needle bar support of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a schematic view of the needle bar support of Figure 5 engaged on the needle bar of Figure 2 in a first embodiment; Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a cylindrical member attached to a needle bar in a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 shows a schematic see through view of the needle bar support of Figure 5 engaged on the needle bar inside the needle holder of Figure 2;

Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the needle bar and needle holder of Figure 2; and Figure 11 shows a cross-section view of the needle bar support of Figure 5 engaged on the needle bar inside the needle holder of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figures 5, 6 and 7, a needle bar support is indicated generally at 26. The needle bar support 26 includes a resilient elongate cylindrical body 28 having central bore 30 for engaging around a needle bar 14. A longitudinal slit 32 extends along the whole length of the cylindrical body 28 and extends to the central bore 30. The needle bar support 26 is adapted to detachably mount onto the needle bar 14, and slide into a tube 18 of a needle holder of a tattoo machine 10, best seen in Figure 10.

As best seen in Figure 11, the central bore 30 is sized to tightly grip the needle bar 14, so that the needle bar support 26 does not slide out of place during use. Varied lengths of the needle bar support 26 can be provided to suit differing makes and arrangements of tattoo machine. Similarly, different external diameter needle bar supports can be provided to fit with clearance inside the tube 18. The needle bar support should not impede the oscillation movement of the needle bar 14, when in use. To attach the needle bar support 26 onto the needle bar 14, the needle bar is inserted into the slit 26 and the needle bar support 26 is pushed onto the needle bar 14. As seen in Figures 6 and 11, the width of the slit 32 increases as it extends outwardly from the inner surface to the outer surface of the needle bar support 26, allowing for easy attachment and detachment of the needle bar support 26 from the needle bar 14. The width of the slit is less than the diameter of the central bore 30, where they meet, and the sides of the slit must flex outwardly to allow the needle bar to pass into and be retained in the bore.

Referring to Figure 9, the needle bar support 26 is positioned on the needle bar 14 so that in use the needle bar support 26 is positioned inside the needle holder, proximate the rear end of the tube 18 of the needle holder closest to the user. It will be appreciated that, if desired, the needle bar support 26 may be attached onto the needle bar 14 proximate the tip 20, of the needle holder of the tattoo machine 10. However, being closer to the point of oscillation, positioning the needle bar support 26 proximate the rear end of the tube 18 provides better stabilisation of the needle bar 14.

In another embodiment, a substantially cylindrical member 36 is disposed about and attached to the needle bar 14, for sliding within the tube 18 of the needle holder of the tattoo machine 10. As seen in Figure 8, the substantially cylindrical member 36 extends from and is either fixed to or integral with the needle bar 14. This allows for easy maintenance, because as a single piece, dirt and other contaminates are prevented from getting trapped between the needle bar 14 and the substantially cylindrical member 36. In this embodiment, there is no slit along the length of the cylindrical member and the closure effect at the rear end of the tube 18 of the needle holder for preventing back splatter is improved to a small degree.

In use, the needle bar support 26 of the first embodiment can be releasably attached onto the needle bar 14 to a position so that it is inside and adjacent to the end of the tube 18 of the needle holder of the tattoo machine 10. Alternatively the needle bar 14 of the second embodiment with prefabricated cylindrical member 36 can be used to achieve same effect. When disinfection or relocation of the needle bar support 26 to another tattoo machine 10 is required, the needle bar support 26 of the first embodiment may be detached from the needle bar 14.

The needle bar support is beneficial because the needle bar support effectively replaces an elastic band typically used on a tattoo machine. It allows the tattoo machine to run more accurately and efficiently. Importantly, the needle bar support enables the tattoo machine to be used more hygienically by preventing back splatter of fluid or contaminates through the needle holder towards a user. The needle bar support is designed to be compatible for use on different tattoo machines, allowing the user to utilise the needle bar support on his/her preferred tattoo machine. The positioning of the needle bar support can be adjusted to suit individual tattoo machine and the ability to detach the needle bar support from a needle bar allows the needle bar support to be removed for cleaning or for using the needle bar support on another tattoo machine. The needle bar with prefabricated cylindrical member attached provides similar advantages to those as mentioned above. Although the position of the cylindrical member cannot be adjusted, it does provide greater protection from back splatter.

It is envisaged that the invention will improve hygiene, when tattooing, and also improve needle bar stability and hence needle guidance.

Claims

1. A needle bar support comprising a resilient elongate cylindrical body having a central bore for engaging around a needle bar, and a longitudinal slit extending to the central bore, the needle bar support being adapted to detachably mount onto the needle bar and slide into a tube of a tattoo machine needle holder, the central bore engaging the needle bar.

2. A needle bar support as claimed in claim 1, in which the longitudinal slit extends the whole length of the resilient elongate cylindrical body.

3. A needle bar support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the needle bar support is adapted to be clipped onto the needle bar.

4. A needle bar support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the needle bar support is made from plastics.

5. A needle bar for supporting a needle of a tattoo machine, the needle bar having attachment means at one end thereof for communication with a drive means of the tattoo machine, and being prefabricated with a substantially cylindrical member disposed about and permanently attached to the needle bar for engagement in a tube of the tattoo machine.

6. A needle bar as claimed in claim 5, in which the substantially cylindrical member is integrally formed with the needle bar.

7. A needle bar as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the substantially cylindrical member is adapted to be received in and to oscillate within a tube of a tattoo machine.

8. A tattoo machine comprising a tattoo machine needle holder, the tattoo machine needle holder having a coaxially mounted tip, grip, and tube, and an elongate needle bar for supporting a needle, the needle bar extending through the grip, tip and tube, and a needle bar support as claimed in any one of claims l to 4.

9. A tattoo machine comprising a tattoo machine needle holder, the tattoo machine needle holder having a coaxially mounted tip, grip, and tube, and a needle bar as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7.

10. A needle bar support substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, 10 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A needle bar substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A tattoo machine substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, 8 and 9, and 10 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.