Patent Application
20240042185
The present invention relates to a tattoo tube for holding a reciprocating needle for infusing insoluble ink into human or animal skin.
Conventional tattoo machines comprise a reciprocating needle that moves up and down to infuse insoluble ink particles into a human's or animal's top layer of skin. In many cases, the needle moves linearly within a tubular or cylindrical tattoo tube or other cylindrical structure that is held in a tattoo artist hand while using the reciprocating needle to tattoo an individual. The reciprocating needle typically punctures the skin at a high rate of frequency during the tattooing process.
To facilitate tattooing, tattoo machine needles are installed in the artist's tattoo machine and dipped in ink, which adheres to the tip of the needle. Subsequently, the tattoo machine induces an up-and-down motion of the needle to puncture the top layer of the individual's skin and drive insoluble particles of ink into the dermal layer of skin.
Unfortunately, intricate or large tattoos require a significant amount of time to complete, because the artist must stop tattooing to reapply ink to the needle. This means the needle is removed from the skin when it is dipped. This, in turn, will extend the time for tattooing is dramatically.
The repeated dipping is a disadvantage for both the individual being tattooed and the tattoo artist. While, the tattoo artist would prefer to shorten the time for tattoos to make room for more customers, the customers prefer to decrease the time the experience discomfort while being tattooed. Consequently, what is needed is an apparatus and method that reduces the tattoo time, thereby freeing the tattoo artist to perform more tattoos. Such an apparatus and method would additionally reduce the time that the individual being tattooed would have to sit for the tattoo.
An apparatus, and method for using the apparatus, are disclosed which include various aspects not found in the prior art. According to one aspect of the invention, a cylindrical tattoo tube is claimed for holding and guiding a reciprocating needle during a tattooing procedure. The cylindrical tattoo tube of the present invention includes a cavity formed in its outer surface for use in storing ink that will be used to tattoo the skin.
In one aspect, the tattoo tube includes tattoo ink included thereon which, the tattoo artist may access to provide the ink to the point of a reciprocating needle. The tattoo tube permits freedom of movement of the reciprocating needle, and permits the artist to provide ink to the needle point without the need for the tattoo artist to repeatedly dip the needle in an ink source. In another aspect, the apparatus disclosed includes a means for storing tattoo ink on the tattoo tube before tattooing. The means for storing is being done a manner that permits the tattoo artist to manually actuate provide ink to the needle point.
According to the various embodiments of the invention, the cylindrical tattoo tube may include one (or multiple) ink reservoirs for receiving ink to be used for tattooing. The ink reservoir may include an opening for the tattoo artist to include a desired ink therein. The reservoir may further include a channel for transporting the ink from the ink reservoir to a channel exit, wherein the channel exit is located distant from and opposite to the ink reservoir opening, and wherein the channel exit may be proximate to the needle point. In this way, the ink may be delivered to the point of the needle
In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus is a cylindrical tattoo tube that allows the tattoo artist to provide multiple different inks to the tattoo site, with each separate ink being included independently of each other. In another aspect, ink may be included in ink capsules, wherein each ink is included in its own capsule. In another aspect of the invention one or more ink capsules may be affixed to the outer surface of the tattoo tube. In still another aspect, multiple ink reservoirs are formed integral to the outer surface of the tattoo tubes. I still another aspect, the tattoo tube may include multiple distinct cavities for including distinct ink capsules therein. are In yet another aspect, multiple ink capsules may be rotatably affixed to the outer surface of the tattoo tube. According to various aspects of the invention, the tattoo artist may select which of the different ink sources may be used at a given time, by for example, manually rotating the ink sources around the tattoo tube central axis.
A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, given by way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention is described with reference to tattooing, and more particularly, with reference to tattooing with an insoluble ink. However, the invention contemplates using any suitable liquid for tattooing. As such, the terms “ink” and “liquid” may be used interchangeably herein. Further, conventional tattooing procedures are well known and may not be described herein for the sake of brevity. Additionally, the communication of one element to another element, or the communication of one element with another element, as described herein or indicated in the figures, may be physical connections. Further still, the connections may be direct or indirect connections as required to achieve the object and aspects of this invention. Even further, although the tattoo tube is described as cylindrical, the tattoo tube may be any shape permitting the tattoo tube to be held by hand.
Cylindrical body 102 further includes a cavity 110 (also called an ink reservoir 110, herein) for receiving an ink chosen by the tattoo artist for use in tattooing. Ink reservoir 110 may be distinct from cylindrical body 102. In an alternate embodiment, ink reservoir 110 may be made integral to cylindrical body 102. In yet another exemplary embodiment, ink reservoir 110 may be formed in the outer surface of cylindrical body 102. I still another embodiment, Ink reservoir 110 is in such proximity to cylindrical body 102 that it may be held within a tattoo artists hand when tattooing as described more fully below.
Ink reservoir 110 may include an ink reservoir opening 112 for allowing the ink to be added to, poured in, or injected into ink reservoir 110. In a typical sense, the ink would be added to ink reservoir 110 through ink reservoir open 112 prior to placing the needle point onto the individual's skin.
Ink reservoir 110 may further include a reservoir channel 114 for transporting the ink that has been added to ink reservoir 110 to longitudinal passageway exit way 118. Reservoir channel 114 may be in physical communication with the ink reservoir 110. That is, ink that enters ink reservoir 110 may be transported to longitudinal passageway exit way 118 via reservoir channel 114. More particularly, the ink would be transported from ink reservoir 110 through channel 114 and out reservoir channel exit way 116.
Reservoir channel exit way 116 permits the ink that has been placed in ink reservoir 110 and transported from the ink reservoir 110 through the reservoir channel 114, to be deposited out reservoir channel exit way 116. In preferred embodiments of the invention, reservoir channel exit way 116 may be in proximity to the longitudinal passageway exit way 118, such that the ink that exits reservoir channel exit way 116 is placed in contact with needle point 108 at longitudinal passageway exit way 118.
A plunger 120 may be included in ink reservoir opening 112 of ink reservoir 110 to facilitate the transport of the ink from ink reservoir 110 through reservoir channel 114 and out reservoir channel exit way 116. As used herein, plunger 120 may be any manually actuated device that may be inserted into reservoir opening 112 for forcing the ink from ink reservoir 110 into reservoir channel 114. In preferred embodiments, plunger 120 operates by displacing the volume of the ink in the ink reservoir 110 with the mass of plunger 120. This action thereby forces the ink into reservoir channel 114 and out reservoir channel exit way 116.
Occasionally, the tattoo artist will need to clean his needle, such as when the artist is changing the color of the ink. The tattoo artist may want to wipe or rinse needle 106 or needle point 108 to remove remnants of a prior used ink. Cylindrical body 102 may include a cleaning aperture 117 (i.e., a tattoo tube wash out 117) (see, also,
As noted, in some instances, the tattoo artist may desire to clean his needle point 108. To facilitate this, as shown with brief reference to
Ink exit way 115 may be in further communication with reservoir channel 114. Ink that traverses from ink exit way 115 enters into reservoir channel 114. Reservoir channel 114 may be in communication with channel exit way 116. Ink that traverses from ink exit way 115 into reservoir channel 114 may further exit from channel exit way 116 such that the ink may be placed in proximity to needle point 108. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the ink that traverses from ink exit way 115 into reservoir channel 114 may further exit from channel exit way 116 such that the ink may be placed in contact with needle point 108.
Cylindrical tattoo tube 100 may further include a longitudinal passageway opening 119 at a first end of longitudinal passageway 104. Needle opening 119 may be formed to receive tattoo needle 106 therein. Cylindrical tattoo tube 100 may further include a longitudinal passageway opening 118 formed at a second end of longitudinal passageway 104. In one exemplary embodiment, longitudinal passageway opening 118 is formed on longitudinal passageway 104 on an opposite end of the passage way to where longitudinal passageway opening 119 is formed. In another exemplary embodiment, the first end of longitudinal passageway 104 is positioned substantially opposite the second end of longitudinal passage way 104. In still another embodiment of cylindrical tattoo tube 100, longitudinal passageway opening 118 is formed adjacent to channel exit way 116. In still another embodiment of cylindrical tattoo tube 102, longitudinal passageway opening 118 is formed substantially adjacent to channel exit way 116.
Cylindrical tattoo tube 100 may further include reservoir channel 114, which is in communication with ink reservoir 110. In another exemplary embodiment, reservoir channel 114 may be in further communication with channel exit way 116. During operation, tattoo ink that is contained in ink reservoir 110 may be provided to reservoir channel 114. The ink provided to reservoir channel 114 may then be provided to channel exit way 116.
As noted, a plunger 120 may be used with various embodiments of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment plunger 120 may be placed inside ink reservoir 110 for displacing the ink placed by the artist in ink reservoir 110. In another exemplary embodiment, plunger 120 may be inserted in ink reservoir 110 prior to the artist filling ink reservoir 110 with the tattoo ink. In the embodiment shown in
In one exemplary embodiment, plunger 120 may be placed in the empty ink reservoir 110 such that substantially all air is removed from the ink reservoir 110. The air is removed from ink reservoir 110 by placing plunger 120 inside ink reservoir opening 112, and pushing plunger 120 the length of ink reservoir 110 toward channel exit way 116. The tattoo artist may then place reservoir channel exit way 116 in contact with an external ink source (not shown). Ink may then be draw into ink reservoir 110 from the external ink source by slowing drawing plunger 120 back toward in reservoir opening 112 In this case. The ink from the external ink source is drawn through the reservoir channel exit way 116, into reservoir channel 114, and into ink reservoir 110.
More particularly,
When the tattoo artist is ready to begin the tattooing procedure, the tattoo artist may transport the ink from the ink reservoir 110, through ink reservoir channel 114 and out reservoir channel exit 116, so that the ink may contact the needle point 108. The tattoo artist facilitates the movement of the ink to needle point 108 by manually actuating the plunger 120 using, for example, the tattoo artist's thumb 404 (or other digit) (Step 506). The tattoo artist may control the amount of the ink dispensed by regulating the amount of manual pressure placed on the plunger 120. Higher downward pressure on plunger 120 may result in a higher volume of ink being transported to exit 116 and contacting needle point 108, while less pressure would result in a lower volume of ink being presented to needle point 108.
Once the tattoo artist has dispensed the desired amount of ink to needle point 108, the tattoo artist may place the needle point 108 in contact with the individual's skin, and begin his tattooing procedure (Step 508). If the tattoo artist needs to use additional ink in his procedure (Step 510), the artist may repeat steps 506 through step 508 until the procedure is ended or the ink in ink reservoir 110 has been substantially or completely used. That is, the tattoo artist may manually press the plunger further into ink reservoir 110 causing the desired amount of ink to come in contact with the needle point 108, as described above. The tattoo artist may thereby continue his tattooing procedure without the need to stop and dip needle point 108 in a separate ink source. The ink source is included with the cylindrical tattoo tube according to various embodiments of the invention. Thus, the tattoo artist can continue his tattooing procedure until the tattooing procedure is completed, or the artist needs to change the ink in ink reservoir 110. In other embodiments described herein, the artist may use this procedure when using a cylindrical tattoo tube with multiple ink reservoirs, which is described more fully below.
In some instances, whether the artist uses a tattoo tube including one or multiple ink reservoirs, the artist may find that his desired ink reservoir is empty (Step 512). In such a case, the artist may refill the reservoir (Step 514), include the plunger and tattoo his subject according to steps 506-510. If the ink reservoir is not empty (Step 512), the tattoo artist may simply actuate the plunger to dispense the desired in (Step 506). The artist may then continue tattooing as described with respect to steps 508-514.
Cylindrical body 602 further includes multiple ink reservoirs 610A and 610B for receiving ink for tattooing. In one exemplary embodiment, multiple ink reservoirs 610A and 610B are positioned equal distant from the aperture 117. In another exemplary embodiment, multiple ink reservoirs 610A and 610B are parallel to the cylindrical body 102 central axis. The ink received by reservoir 610A may be the same ink or different ink than is received by reservoir 610B. The ink reservoir 610A may include an ink reservoir opening 612A for allowing a first ink to be added to, poured in, or injected into, the ink reservoir 610A. The ink may be added to ink reservoir 610A through the ink reservoir opening 612A. Similarly, ink reservoir 610B may include an ink reservoir opening 612B for allowing a second ink to be added to, poured in, or injected into, the ink reservoir through the ink reservoir opening 612B. The ink may be added to ink reservoirs through the openings 610A or 610B prior to placing the needle point 108 onto the individual's skin.
Ink reservoir 610A may further include a reservoir channel 614A for transporting the ink that has been added to ink reservoir 610A. Reservoir channel 614A may be in physical communication with reservoir 610A, for receiving the transported ink from ink reservoir 610A. Reservoir channel 614A may further include a reservoir channel exit way 616A that permits the ink that has been placed in reservoir 610A to be transported from ink reservoir 610A and then transported through reservoir channel 614A and out a reservoir channel exit way 616A. In preferred embodiments of the invention, reservoir channel exit way 616A may be in proximity to a longitudinal passageway exit way 618, such that ink that exits the reservoir channel exit way 616A is placed in contact with needle point 108 at longitudinal passageway exit way 618.
Ink reservoir 610B may further include a reservoir channel 614B for transporting the ink that has been added to the ink reservoir 610B. Reservoir channel 614B may be in physical communication with the reservoir 610B, for receiving the transported ink from ink reservoir-610B. Reservoir channel 614B may further include a reservoir channel exit way 616B that permits the ink that has been placed in reservoir 610B to be transported from ink reservoir 610B and then transported through reservoir channel 614B and out a reservoir channel exit way 616B. In preferred embodiments of the invention, reservoir channel exit way 616B may be in proximity to a longitudinal passageway exit way 618, such that ink that exits the reservoir channel exit way 616B may be placed in contact with needle point 108 at longitudinal passageway exit way 618. In some embodiments, reservoir channel exit way 616A may be located in proximity to reservoir channel exit way 616B. Alternatively, reservoir channel exit way 616A may be located opposite to, or substantially opposite, reservoir channel exit 616B. Even further, reservoir channel exit way 616a may be located adjacent to reservoir channel exit 616B.
A plunger 620A may be included ink inside ink reservoir 610A as is described with respect to plunger 120 and ink reservoir 110 above. Plunger 620A may be useful to facilitate the transport of the ink from reservoir 610A through the reservoir channel 614A and out the reservoir channel exit way 616A. As used herein, a plunger 620A may be a manually actuated device for forcing the ink from reservoir 610A into reservoir channel 614A. In preferred embodiments plunger 620A operates by displacing the volume of the ink in reservoir 610A with the mass of plunger 620A. This action thereby forces the ink into reservoir channel 614A and out the reservoir channel exit way 616A.
Similarly a plunger 620B may be included ink inside ink reservoir 610B as is described with respect to plunger 120 and ink reservoir 110 above. As used herein, plunger 620B may be a manually actuated device for forcing the ink from reservoir 610B into reservoir channel 614B. In preferred embodiments plunger 620B operates by displacing the volume of the ink in reservoir 610b with the mass of plunger 620B. This action thereby forces the ink into reservoir channel 614b and out reservoir channel exit way 616B.
Reservoir channel exit way 616B may be placed in proximity to longitudinal passageway exit way 618. Further still, reservoir channel 614b may be in communication with reservoir channel exit way 616B and ink reservoir 610B. As noted, during operation, plunger 620B may be manual actuation by a tattoo artist to force ink from ink reservoir 610b through reservoir channel 614B and out reservoir channel exit 616B.
The present invention eliminates the need for the tattoo artist to repeatedly dip his tattoo needle point in his ink source during the procedure since the ink for the procedure would be contained in ink reservoirs 610A and 610B. Additionally, when the cylindrical tattoo tube of present invention includes multiple ink reservoirs, the present invention eliminates the need to exchange a first ink that is in an ink reservoir, for a second ink that the artists may wish to use. When the tattoo artist is ready to apply a second desired ink to an individual's skin, the artist need only rotate the cylindrical tattoo tube so that the tattoo artist's thumb may actuate the plunger corresponding to the desired ink.
For example, a tattoo artist may begin tattooing using a first ink in ink reservoir 610A. The first ink may be dispensed from the ink reservoir 610A through the reservoir channel 614A and out of the reservoir channel exit way 616A by forcing the plunger 620A into the ink filled ink reservoir 610A using an artist's thumb 404. When the artist wishes to use a second ink in ink reservoir 610B, the artist may rotate cylindrical tattoo tube 600 to enable the artist's thumb to actuate plunger 620b. In that way, the desired ink may be dispensed from the ink reservoir 610B through reservoir channel 614b and out of reservoir channel exit way 616B by forcing the plunger 620B into the ink filled ink reservoir 610B again using an artist's thumb 404. In all other respects, the way in which cylindrical tattoo tube 600 is used in tattooing is similar in manner as was described with respect to the use of cylindrical tattoo tube 100 with respect to
As previously noted, in one exemplary embodiment, multiple ink reservoirs 610A and 610B are positioned equal distant one from the other. As shown in
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tattoo artist may provide tattoo ink to a tattoo needle using an ink capsule containing a desired tattoo ink.
As shown in
In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in
Although the description is exemplary of placing ink capsule 800 into ink reservoir 610a and 610b, the description applies to the instance where ink capsule 800 is inserted into ink reservoir 110. That is, where ink capsule 800 is configured to be placed or positioned within ink reservoir 610a, ink capsule 800 tapered end opening 808 may be configured to communicate with reservoir channel 614a. In such instance, ink that is in ink reservoir channel 614a may be provided to ink capsule 800 via tapered end opening 808 by, for example, pulling plunger 120 from tapered end 806 toward ink capsule opening 804. In this way, the suction created when the plunger is pulled draws the ink from ink reservoir channel 614a, through ink capsule opening 804 into the tapered end 806 and further into capsule cylindrical body 802. Similarly, ink that is in ink capsule 800 may be provided to reservoir channel 614a by, for example, pushing plunger 120 from a position at ink capsule opening 804 toward tapered end 806. In this way, ink that is in capsule cylindrical body 802 in forced into tapered end 806. The pushing action of the plunger 120 may further push the ink from tapered end 806 through tapered end opening 808 and into reservoir channel 614a.
Similarly, as shown in
In yet another exemplary embodiment, ink capsule 800 may be used in conjunction with a prior art tube 701, for example, such as is depicted in
As noted, ink capsules 800 may be affixed to the exterior surface of a prior art tube cylindrical body 703. In one exemplary embodiment shown in
Ink capsule restraint 704 may be shaped to substantially encircle prior art tube cylindrical body 703. That is, ink capsule restraint 704 may include capsule holding portions 717 which are configured to the outer surface of capsule 800. In one exemplary embodiment, ink capsules 800 may be oval in shape. In such an instance, ink capsule 800 may include a capsule opening of similar construction as capsule opening 808. Capsule restraint 704 may comprise a strap 706 for holding in capsules 800 in physical abutment with cylindrical body 703. In one exemplary embodiment, capsule restraint 704 may be held securely to the outer surface of prior art tube cylindrical body 703 using a fastener 710.
Strap 706 may be comprised of metal, plastic, rubber or other material suitable for affixing capsules 800 to cylindrical body 703. As shown, capsule restraint 704 may include a restraint fastener 710 for ensuring that ink capsules 800 remain removably affixed to the prior out tube cylindrical body 703 outer surface. In one exemplary embodiment, strap 706 is elongated. As such, strap 706 may be used to encircle ink capsules 800 against the outer surface of cylindrical tube body 703. Strap 706 maintains ink capsules 800 in abutment with cylindrical tube body using restraint fastener 710. That is, a first end of elongated strap 706 may be fastened to a second end of elongated strap 706 using a suitable fastener 710, such as, as screw, rivet, snap or the like.
With reference again to
As noted, ink tube 716 may be in further communication with prior art tube washout 713. In one exemplary embodiment, ink tube 716 may be in communication with prior art tube washout 713 for providing ink therein. In yet another exemplary embodiment, ink tube 716 may be in communication with an ink tube band 714 positioned in proximity to prior art tube washout 713. With reference to
Ink tube band 714 may include projections 708 for accepting one end of the end of the ink tube 716 positioned opposite ink capsule opening 808. In one exemplary embodiment, projections 708 may be configured such that ink tube 716 may be affixed thereto. In addition, projections 708 may include an ink band canal formed through ink tube band 714 for permitting ink that is contained in ink tube 716 to flow freely from ink tube 716 to prior art tube washout 713. In other exemplary embodiment, ink tube 706 may be of sufficient length such that it is positioned through the washout 713 such that the ink tube 716 provides ink to prior art tube tapered end opening 711.
With return reference to
It should be noted that various embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the individual elements of the invention being formed of one piece. However, it is contemplated that the present invention may have elements that are detachable, such as, the plunger or ink reservoir. Further still, such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation in part of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/358,221 files Jul. 4, 2022 and U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 16/409,854, titled “A Tattoo Needle Tube Including a Tattoo Ink Reservoir for Manually Dispensing Tattoo Ink During Tattooing,” filed May 12, 2019, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/670,847, titled “A Tattoo Needle Tube Including a Tattoo Ink Reservoir for Manually Dispensing Tattoo Ink During Tattooing,” filed May 13, 2018.
