Patent Application
20160270493
1. Field of the Invention
The present application generally relates to decorative body jewelry piercing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dermal anchor base that might be used for decorative body jewelry piercings that do not protrude through the skin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Body piercing is a form of body modification that involves puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, thereby creating an opening in or through which jewelry may be worn. Ample evidence exists documenting the practice of body piercing in various forms by both sexes since ancient times and throughout the world. For example, the practice of ear and nose piercing has been confirmed by mummified remains from as early as 1500 BC. Lip and tongue piercings have been thoroughly documented in early African tribal cultures. Genital piercing has been identified in the Indian sub-continent as occurring as early as 320 to 550 CE.
The practice of body piercing has waxed and waned in Western culture throughout the years. Body piercing experienced an increased subcultural popularity in the 1970s and has come so far as to be considered mainstream since the 1990s. With the rise in mainstream acceptance of body modification, there has been a corresponding interest and need for the adoption and use of safe body piercing techniques, tools, and materials.
Of particular interest—and the focus of the present application—are those decorative body jewelries that utilize a dermal anchor base. A dermal anchor base may be utilized to selectively decorate parts of the human body. A dermal anchor base typically includes a body anchor that is secured under the skin. A portion of the base then protrudes through the skin by way of a receiving post. The receiving post then connectively couples to one or more decorative body jewelries, usually through the use of a threaded male-female configuration.
A dermal anchor base for decorative body jewelry is typically utilized in those instances where both ends of a piece of body jewelry do not protrude through the skin. A consequence of such an arrangement is that only one part—the top end of the jewelry—is exposed, while the base remains enclosed in the body tissue. A post, which is an integrated feature of the base, protrudes through the skin and attaches to the corresponding threaded top end. This is the typical design available on the market for dermal anchor body jewelry
Problems exist with respect to the use of threaded dermal anchor bodies with respect to the rotation of the base part of the jewelry when tightening or loosening the corresponding exposed top end. These problems typically arise as a result of tightening and/or loosening forces that are transmitted from one part to the other—usually from the top to the base. Existing dermal anchor designs typically rely on the base of the dermal anchor to develop a reaction force against body tissues. This force counteracts a tightening force in the case of installation and a loosening force in the vent of removal. Surrounding body tissues are often manipulated in order to prevent movement of the base, but such manipulation can cause body tissues to be disturbed, damaged, or even infected, which might result in the need for the removal of the base in its entirety.
Other exemplary but ultimately unsatisfactory solutions have involved the use of interchangeable gems. A gem magnetically attaches to the top end of the base, thereby avoiding the need for disassembly of the threaded top end. A magnetic solution often proves unsatisfactory, however, in that the magnetic force is often insufficient to maintain the placement of the gem resulting in loss of the same. Magnetic solutions, too, often fail to allow for the use of alternative jewelry types, thereby limiting any variety solely to gem color, shape, and size.
A further yet equally unsatisfactory solution has involved the use of a suction force. But like the use of a magnetic solution, the suction often fails, resulting in the loss of the corresponding piece of jewelry. Suction-based solutions are also limited in that the strength of the suction force limits the size and especially the shape of any corresponding piece of jewelry.
There is a need in the art for a body jewelry system that solves the problem of assembly and disassembly by rotation of a hand tool. Such a system would include an engineered tool interface as a part of the dermal anchor base. Such a system would allow for greater freedom and variety with respect to a corresponding piece of jewelry that is coupled to the base, including but not limited to the shape and size of the same.
In an embodiment of the present invention, what is claimed is a dermal anchor system. The system includes a dermal anchor base with a receiving post. The receiving post protrudes through the skin of a person hosting the dermal anchor base. The system also includes a hand tool. The hand tool applies external force that counteracts installation and removal forces that are generated during an interaction with a jewelry component at the receiving post.
A further embodiment of the claimed invention applies the external force concentrically with respect to an axis of the receiving post. This application of force is the result of a mechanical fit between the receiving post and the hand tool.
In a still further embodiment of the presently claimed invention, the mechanical fit of the hand tool with respect to the receiving post includes a corresponding tolerance and tightness that allows for the application of the external force as a result of a shaping of the tool.
In a final claimed embodiment, the shaping of the tool includes the thickness of the hand tool. As a result of the thickness shaping, the hand tool allows clearance between the installed top end of the receiving post and the surface of the skin of the host of the dermal anchor base.
A dermal anchor system for body jewelry is disclosed. The system allows for improved installation and removal of dermal anchor body jewelry by allowing for application of an external force to counteract tightening and loosening forces related to the jewelry. The system includes a hand tool that interacts with an engineered receiving post of a dermal anchor base. The hand tool allows for installation and/or removal of decorative top ends to the receiving post while preventing movement of the dermal anchor base. Torque is externally controlled without disturbing body tissues surrounding the dermal anchor base.
The positioning of the post on base 210 as shown in
The interface utilizes a mechanical fit between the base and tool. This fit allows a coupling force to be applied concentrically with the axis of the post. The applied coupling force from use of the hand tool is sufficient to counteract the torque generated by a tightening action as illustrated in
As described above, the present dermal anchor base and hand tool system allows an external force to be applied to counteract forces generated during installation and removal of top ends from dermal anchors. The mechanical fit between the base post and tool allows a force couple to be applied concentrically with the axis of the post. The hand tool is shaped to achieve the mechanical fit to the base post with sufficient tolerance and tightness of fit to transmit a counteracting hand force and has a thickness small enough to allow clearance between the installed top end and the surface of the skin.
The result is a system that solves the problem of assembly and disassembly by rotation of a hand tool. The presently described system allows for greater freedom and variety with respect to a corresponding piece of jewelry that is coupled to the base, including but not limited to the shape and size of the same. More importantly, however, is that the presently disclosed system improves the installation and removal techniques for dermal anchor body jewelry without regard to a particular source of jewelry.
The above-described embodiments are illustrative of the spirit of the present invention. The aforementioned system may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the intended spirit of the same. In that regard, the described embodiment is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive other than with respect to the appended claims. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
