Ear lobe piercing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for simultaneously piercing an ear lobe and engaging therein a two-piece ear ornament comprising a headed wire and a nut for engaging said wire, said apparatus comprising: A. first jaw means for releasably holding a nut therein, B. second jaw means apertured to provide passage of a headed wire therethrough and mounted for movement relative to said first jaw means to secure an ear lobe therebetween prior to piercing, C. plunger means on said second jaw means actuatable independently of said first and second jaw means and adapted to hold a headed wire in alignment with said nut and the aperture in said second jaw, and D. triggered motive means for driving said plunger means toward said first jaw means to thereby drive a headed wire positioned in said plunger means through said ear lobe and into said nut when said jaw means are moved toward each other.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a body mounting said first and second jaw means for slideable straight-line motion relative to each other.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes a spring normally urging said first jaw means outwardly of said body and compressible to allow closure of said jaws for engagement with an ear lobe.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a trigger on said first jaw means providing a surface for engagement by an operator to move said jaws together.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes means on said body for limiting the minimum distance between said jaw means when said jaw means are moved together.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a resilient wall connected on one of said jaw means and bendable toward said jaw means under a force applied thereto by said ear when said jaw means are moved together to secure said ear therebetween, said wall applying an increasing force to said ear as said jaw means move together.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first jaw means includes means defining a slot for securing said nut therein and providing release of said nut by movement in the direction of said slot.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said triggered motive means comprises (1) a spring which is compressible by an operator to store energy therein, (2) cocking means for holding said spring in a compressed condition, and (3) a trigger actuatable to release said cocking means to thereby drive said plunger means toward said first jaw means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said trigger includes first and second trigger arms mounted on opposite sides of said plunger means to facilitate operation thereof from either side of said plunger means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes (1) an elongated handle for normal vertical disposition in a single hand of an operator, and (2) a body connected to said handle and extending generally orthogonal thereto, said body mounting said first and second jaw means thereon for straight-line motion relative to each other.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said body includes means defining a track for slideable motion of said first jaw means therein.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 11 which includes a spring normally urging said first jaw means outwardly of said track and compressible to accomodate movement of said jaw means toward each other to secure an ear therein.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 12 which includes a trigger connected to said first jaw means for engagement by the operator to move said jaw means together.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first jaw means includes means defining a slot securing said nut and wire therein against withdrawal in the direction of motion of said plunger and facilitating withdrawal in a direction transverse thereto.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said plunger is mounted to extend a forward end thereof to a position closely adjacent said aperture, but not extending through said aperture, when said plunger is driven toward said first jaw means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for simultaneously piercing an ear lobe with a stud having an elongated shank and an enlarged head and engaging said shank in a nut, said apparatus comprising A. a first jaw (1) for positioning against one side of an ear lobe, (2) having means for releasably holding a nut therein B. a second jaw (1) for positioning against a second opposed side of said ear lobe, (2) having means forming an aperture therein of a size sufficient to accomodate passage of a headed stud therethrough, C. means for supporting a headed stud with its shank in alignment with said aperture and said nut, D. plunger means including (1) a plunger mounted in alignment with the aperture in said second jaw and with said nut for driving said shank through said aperture and into said nut, (2) a spring for driving said plunger toward said first jaw, (3) cocking means for holding said plunger in an energized position, (4) trigger means for releasing said cocking means to thereby free said plunger for driving said shank into said nut, E. means mounting said first and second jaws for movement toward and away from each other to engage an ear lobe therebetween when the jaws are moved toward each other, said headed stud remaining engaged with said nut after engagement therewith and passing through said aperture on movement of the jaws away from each other after releasing said trigger means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for simultaneously piercing an ear lobe with a stud having an elongated shank and an enlarged head and engaging said shank in a nut, said apparatus comprising A. a first jaw (1) for positioning against one side of an ear lobe, (2) having means for releasably holding a nut therein B. a second jaw (1) for positioning against a second opposed side of said ear lobe, (2) having means forming an aperture therein of a size sufficient to accomodate passage of a headed stud therethrough, C. means for supporting a headed stud with its shank in alignment with said aperture and said nut, D. plunger means including (1) a plunger mounted in alignment with the aperture in said second jaw and with said nut for driving said shank through said aperture and into said nut, (2) a spring for driving said plunger toward said first jaw, (3) cocking means for holding said plunger in an energized position, (4) trigger means for releasing said cocking means to thereby free said plunger for driving said shank into said nut, E. means mounting said first and second jaws for movement toward and away from each other to engage an ear lobe therebetween when the jaws are moved toward each other, said headed stud remaining engaged with said nut after engagement therewith and passing through said aperture on movement of the jaws away from each other after releasing said trigger means.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said first jaw includes means forming a slot therein extending inwardly from an edge of said jaw for releasably holding said nut therein against movement in the direction of motion of said plunger.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 17 which further includes a yieldable plate mounted on said first jaw and between said first and second jaw for applying an increasing force to an ear lobe placed between said jaws as said jaws are moved together, said plate having therein means forming a slot therethrough aligned with the slot on said first jaw for passage of said wire therethrough.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said second jaw comprises (1) a barrel in which said plunger is slideably mounted; (2) an apertured plate fixedly connected to said barrel and positioned intermediate said barrel and said first jaw lobe for contact with an ear when said jaws are moved together.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 19 which further includes a handle connected to said second jaw and extending transversely therefrom to provide a grip for the user of said apparatus.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 16 which further includes spring means normally urging said jaws apart and yieldable when said jaws are moved together.

Claim 24

An instrument for aligning and driving an earlobe piercing pin through an earlobe comprising; first and second jaw means mounted for movement toward and away from each other; means carried by said first jaw means for carrying and for driving a piercing pin having a head at one end and a pin at the other end along an axis which extends toward said second jaw means; apertured means supported for movement in unison with said first jaw means, said apertured means positioned between said jaws in longitudinal alignment with and lying in a plane normal to said axis which extends toward said second jaw means, said apertured means having an inner area greater than the maximum area of said head of said piercing pin and support means interengaging said first jaw and said apertured means for positioning said apertured means sufficiently close to said second jaw means when said instrument is in its most closed position to firmly grip an earlobe therebetween and for allowing said apertured means to pass over a headed piercing pin in said instrument as said instrument moves from a closed to open position.

Claim 25

An instrument for aligning and driving an earlobe piercing pin through an earlobe comprising; first and second jaw means mounted for movement toward and away from each other; means carried by said first jaw means for carrying and for driving a piercing pin having a head at one end and a pin at the other end along an axis which extends toward said second jaw means; apertured means supported for movement in unison with said first jaw means, said apertured means positioned between said jaws in longitudinal alignment with and lying in a plane normal to said axis which extends toward said second jaw means, said apertured means having an inner area greater than the maximum area of said head of said piercing pin and support means interengaging said first jaw and said apertured means for positioning said apertured means sufficiently close to said second jaw means when said instrument is in its most closed position to firmly grip an earlobe therebetween and for allowing said apertured means to pass over a headed piercing pin in said instrument as said instrument moves from a closed to open position.