Patent Application
20180028799
This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) an apparatus including cradle assemblies configured to respectively receive and support tattoo machines, and a housing assembly positioned relative to the cradle assemblies (and method therefor).
A tattoo machine (also called a tattoo gun) is a hand-held device generally used to create a tattoo, a permanent marking of the skin with indelible ink. Modern tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils to move an armature bar up and down. Connected to the armature bar is a barred needle grouping that pushes ink into the skin. Tattoo artists generally use the term “machine”, or even “iron”, to refer to their equipment. The word “gun” is often used but many tattoo professionals dislike it. In addition to the coiled tattoo machines there are also rotary tattoo machines, which are powered by regulated motors rather than electromagnetic coils.
It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least in part) at least one problem associated with the existing tattoo machines (also called the existing technology). After much study of the known systems and methods with experimentation, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been identified and is articulated as follows:
Various tattoo inking tasks need to be performed by a tattoo machine, depending on how deep the ink is to be placed on the skin, etc. In order to satisfy the various inking tasks, the tattoo machine is adjusted for power level (electrical power consumption). What is inconvenient about this arrangement is that the power level of the tattoo machine is adjusted from time to time, thereby wasting time and effort for making such power level adjustments to the tattoo machine, and sometimes, leading to inconsistent results for the tattoo artist (user of the tattoo machine) and an unsatisfied customer (the person receiving the tattoo).
What is needed is a plurality of tattoo machines, in which each machine is individually controlled and adjusted for power, such as power set-up, current limits, etc., for a particular inking task to be performed for a selected tattoo machine. However, this may be an expensive arrangement simply because each tattoo machine would require its own dedicated power supply, especially since the tattoo artist can only use one tattoo machine at a time, while the remaining tattoo machines remain idle. To counteract this disadvantage, it would be a good idea to have all of the tattoo machines powered by a single power source.
In addition, it may be a good idea to organize and store the tattoo machines that are required to remain idle and ready for easy user access, while a selected tattoo machine is powered and actively used by the tattoo artist. Therefore, it would be a good idea to have a housing assembly that is configured to (A) receive and support the tattoo machines, and (B) selectively connect electrical power to the tattoo machines. It would be a good idea, as well, to disable the electrical power to be provided or connected to the tattoo machines that remain idle, while only the active tattoo machine remains electrically powered. It would also be a good idea to have an arrangement that would accommodate relatively easier cleaning and sanitizing of the housing assembly (or components thereof) for an improved hygienic outcome.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each of the tattoo machines may be individually turned OFF for the case where the user desires to avoid accidentally connecting power to a selected tattoo machine.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus includes cradle assemblies configured to respectively receive and support tattoo machines, in which the tattoo machines are configured to be electrically powered. A housing assembly is positioned relative to the cradle assemblies. The housing assembly is configured to selectively provide (connect) electrical power to the tattoo machines, in which the tattoo machines are to be respectively received and supported by the cradle assemblies. The housing assembly is configured to receive and support the cradle assemblies.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the housing assembly is configured to support the tattoo machines. The housing assembly is configured to provide individual power control for each of the tattoo machines, such as power set-up, current limits, etc., that may be required for various tattoo inking tasks to be performed by the tattoo machines.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, pressure switches are configured to disable power to be provided or connected to a selected one of the tattoo machines, in such a way that only the selected one of the tattoo machines is provided with or is connected to electrical power while the remaining tattoo machines remain unpowered.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the cradle assembly is removable from the pressure switch in such a way that the cradle assembly may be sanitized. The pressure switch extends, at least in part, from the housing assembly. The advantage of this embodiment is that the apparatus may be more easily kept hygienic.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each of the tattoo machines may be individually turned OFF for the case where the user desires to avoid accidentally connecting power to a selected tattoo machine.
Other aspects are identified in the claims.
Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
This Summary is provided to introduce concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the disclosed subject matter, and is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the disclosed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.
The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of may be defined by the claims (in which the claims may be amended during patent examination after filing of this application). For the description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that the phrase “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.
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In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the housing assembly 104 is configured to support the tattoo machines 900. The housing assembly 104 is configured to provide individual power control for each of the tattoo machines, such as power set-up, current limits, etc., that may be required for various tattoo inking tasks to be performed by the tattoo machines.
In accordance with a specific embodiment, the housing assembly 104 is configured to receive and support the cradle assemblies 102. This configuration is done in such a way that the cradle assemblies 102 are spaced apart relative to each other once the housing assembly 104, in use, receives and supports the cradle assemblies 102. In addition, this configuration is also done in such a way that the tattoo machines 900, which are respectively received and supported by the cradle assemblies 102, are spaced apart from each other once: (a) the housing assembly 104, in use, receives and supports the cradle assemblies 102, and (b) the cradle assemblies 102, in use, respectively receive and support the tattoo machines 900.
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In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the pressure switches 118 are configured to disable power to be provided or connected to a selected one of the tattoo machines 900, in such a way that only the selected one of the tattoo machines 900 is provided with or is connected to electrical power while the remaining tattoo machines 900 remain unpowered.
The pressure switches 118 are configured to: (A) detect whether a respective cradle assembly 102 is supporting a respective tattoo machine 900, and (B) detect whether the respective tattoo machine 900 has been removed from the respective cradle assembly 102. The pressure switches 118 are configured to retract further into a central interior of the housing assembly 104 in response to the respective cradle assembly 102, in use, supporting the respective tattoo machine 900. The pressure switches 118 are configured to extend away from the central interior of the housing assembly 104 in response to the removal of the respective tattoo machine 900 from the respective cradle assembly 102.
For the case where (A) electrical power is connected to the housing assembly 104 (via a power cord 124 or via an external power supply 108), and (B) the respective tattoo machine 900 remains received and supported by the respective cradle assembly 102, the pressure switch 118 is configured to not permit (disconnect) the supply of electrical power to the respective tattoo machine 900.
For the case where (A) electrical power is connected to the housing assembly 104 (via a power cord 124 or via an external power supply 108), and (B) the respective tattoo machine 900 is removed from the respective cradle assembly 102, the pressure switch 118 is configured to permit (connect) the supply of electrical power to the respective tattoo machine 900.
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The housing assembly 104 further includes a power switch 116 (ON/OFF switch) for a respective one of the tattoo machines 900 to be respectively received and supported by the cradle assemblies 102. The power switch 116 is configured to selectively turn ON or turn OFF power to be made available to a selected one of the tattoo machines 900. In this manner, each of the tattoo machines 900 can be individually turned OFF for the case where the user desires to avoid accidentally connecting power to a selected tattoo machine 900.
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The pressure switch 118 detects that the tattoo machine 900 is received and supported by the cradle assembly 102. The pressure switch 118 is configured to transmit a first signal to the controller 110, in which the first signal indicates that the tattoo machine 900 is received and supported by the cradle assembly 102.
The controller 110 is configured to not connect electrical power to the tattoo machine 900 for the case where the controller 110 receives the first signal from the pressure switch 118 (for the case where the tattoo machine 900 is received and supported by the cradle assembly 102).
The pressure switch 118 is configured to detect whether the tattoo machine 900 has become removed from the cradle assembly 102, and to provide a second signal indicating that the tattoo machine 900 has become removed from the cradle assembly 102. The pressure switch 118 is configured to detect that the tattoo machine 900 has become removed from the cradle assembly 102, for the case where the user 902 removes the tattoo machine 900 from the cradle assembly 102, and away from the housing assembly 104. The pressure switch 118 is configured to transmit a second signal to the controller 110, in which the second signal indicates that the tattoo machine 900 has become removed from the cradle assembly 102.
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It will be appreciated that the description and/or drawings identify and describe embodiments of the apparatus (either explicitly or non-explicitly). The apparatus may include any suitable combination and/or permutation of the technical features as identified in the detailed description, as may be required and/or desired to suit a particular technical purpose and/or technical function. It will be appreciated, that where possible and suitable, any one or more of the technical features of the apparatus may be combined with any other one or more of the technical features of the apparatus (in any combination and/or permutation). It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that technical features of each embodiment may be deployed (where possible) in other embodiments even if not expressly stated as such above. It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that other options would be possible for the configuration of the components of the apparatus to adjust to manufacturing requirements and still remain within the scope as described in at least one or more of the claims. This written description provides embodiments, including the best mode, and also enables the person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments. The patentable scope may be defined by the claims. The written description and/or drawings may help understand the scope of the claims. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood, for this document, that the phrase “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” The foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.
