Field of invention

The present invention relates to a stand arranged to hold a tattooing machine; a tattooing machine stand. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a tattooing machine stand having disposable portions. Background of invention

To ink a tattoo on a person, it is necessary to break that person's skin and as such hygiene and cleanliness are of the utmost importance if infection to the person is to b e avoided. However, tattooing machines are typically laid on a desk, bed, etc. when they are not in use during the creation of a tattoo which does not lend itself to the necessary cleanliness, etc.

Moreover, complex tattoos may require the tattoo artist to use several different machines which can lead to a cluttered working environment with several machines being laid down at once. This can lead to entanglement of wires, and damage to tattoo machine needles, etc. and can also lead to cross-contamination of the needles of the tattoo machines perhaps due to the machines touching one another or through the machine picking up contamination from the working surface which may not be as clean as desired.

Stands that utilise test tubes to hold a tattooing machine are known but these are arranged to hold the grips (see reference 806 in Figure 8) and moreover can readily be broken as a tattoo machine rests within the test tube. Summary of invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tattooing machine stand, typically comprising a base arranged to hold at least one cartridge which may itself be, in use, arranged to receive the nozzle of a tattooing machine. The cartridge may be removeably mounted upon the base. Such an arrangement is convenient because it can facilitate easy cleaning of the cartridges and/or base and can help to prevent injury from people catching themselves on the needle of the tattooing machine. Moreover, embodiments which secure a tattooing machine by the nozzle are believed advantageous because they help to prevent dirt, and other contaminants, from entering the cartridge. Should the cartridge have a larger diameter bore there is likely to be a greater room between the grip and/or nozzle thereby allowing material to more readily enter the bore. The cartridge may provide a disposable portion.

The nozzle may also be referred to as a tip and the word tip may be interchangeable with the word nozzle. Conveniently, the cartridge is arranged to be slideably received by the base. Such an arrangement can lead to an easy means to mount the cartridge upon the base. However, in other embodiments other means to mount the cartridge on the base may be provided. For example, the cartridge may be arranged to screw onto the base. In yet further embodiments, the cartridge may be arranged to be held in place by a nut, screw, or the cartridge may clip in, etc.

The cartridge may comprise a bore, which may be a blind bore. Such a bore is a convenient way to provide a location for the nozzle of the tattooing machine and preventing any contaminants, such as blood and ink, being dripped below the tattooing machine stand as a tattooing machine rests in the stand. As such, cartridges of embodiments of the present invention can help to keep the working environment more hygienic.

Typically, the nozzles of tattooing machines are of substantially the same diameter and as such, the cartridge may be able to receive many different makes of tattooing machine. It is known to place grips onto a tattooing machine but such grips should not prevent the nozzle from being received by the cartridge.

The bore may be generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. Conveniently, the opening of the bore is provided at a top end region of the cartridge.

Typically, the grip of a tattooing machine placed within the cartridge is arranged to rest adjacent a top region of the cartridge. Such an arrangement can help to provide sealed, or at least partially sealed, environment within the bore of the cartridge which can help to give the advantages described elsewhere: prevention of ink drying out; prevention of contamination of the needle by foreign matter; prevention of blood, ink, etc. from spreading. Generally, the bore is arranged to have a close fit to the nozzle of the tattooing machine. Such an arrangement as it can help to increase the hygiene of the stand by helping to prevent dirt, etc. falling into the bore when a tattooing machine is within the bore. Such an arrangement helps to keep the nozzle and needle cleaner from floating dirt, dust, cross contamination of bloods/inks, and protects the needle from damage whilst the tattoo machine is not being used. Also, the environment provided by the bore may help prevent ink on a needle of the tattooing machine from drying out. It will be appreciated that drying of the ink can cause the ink to congeal and/or become sticky which in turn may cause a bad flow of ink and subsequent inferior results when the tattooing machine is in use.

The bore may be arranged to be of complementary dimensions to a nozzle tattooing machine; ie to allow a nozzle to received therein. In one embodiment, the bore of the cartridge is arranged to receive a nozzle of substantially 8mm which is standard nozzle size of tattooing machines. As such, the bore of cartridge may be slightly larger than 8mm to allow an 8mm nozzle to be inserted thereinto. For example, the bore might be substantially any of the following: 8.2mm, 8.25mm, 8.5mm, 8.75mm, 9mm, 10mm or the like.

In other embodiments, the bore of the cartridge may be arranged to receive nozzles of other dimensions, such as 9mm, 10mm, or the like. For such embodiments, the bore may be slightly larger than the intended nozzle. For example, the diameter of the bore may be substantially 0.2mm, 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 0.75mm, 1mm, 2mm wider than the diameter of the nozzle. In one embodiment, the cartridge is generally cylindrical in shape this being an efficient use of material to surround a bore. However, in alternative embodiment the cartridge may be other than cylindrical, and may for example, be square, oval, triangular, or the like in cross section. Such embodiments are advantageous to accommodate nozzles of tattoo machines which are not cylindrical. For example, it is known to have 'shovel' type arrangements having multiple needles (often referred to as 'magnum style' needles and nozzles).

The cartridge may typically comprise at least one groove arranged to receive a portion of the stand. The or each groove may be at a bottom end region of the cartridge.

In some embodiments, the groove is annular. However, in other embodiments, a plurality of grooves may be provided, which may be at, or generally at, opposite sides of the cartridge.

The base may comprise at least one slot arranged to receive, perhaps slideably, a cartridge. Conveniently, the base may comprise a plurality of slots.

The slot/slots may be 'U' shaped. However, the or each slot will typically comprise at least a region having substantially parallel edge regions capable of receiving a cartridge.

Typically, the stand is fabricated from a metal. Conveniently, the metal is stainless steel since this is easy to clean, such as in an autoclave, etc. However, other metals may equally be used.

Typically, a cartridge is fabricated from a plastics material. Typically, the cartridges are arranged to be disposable. Such an arrangement is convenient and helps to increase the sterility of the tattooing machine stand. Conveniently, each disposable cartridge is disposed of between each customer to help reduce the chance of cross contamination.

In alternative embodiments, a cartridge may be made of a metal, such as stainless steel or other suitable material, which would typically be of a medical grade. Materials such as stainless steel are advantageous in that they can be sterilised, perhaps by an autoclave and as such can be cleaned between each customer.

In some embodiments, the cartridge may comprise a seal arranged to seal against a tattooing machine placed therein. Such an arrangement can help to prevent dirt contaminating the tattooing machine when it is placed in the tattooing machine stand. In other embodiments, a seal may be provided in addition to the cartridge which may provide cheaper to manufacture than providing the seal as part of the cartridge. In other embodiments, no seal may be provided.

The longitudinal axis of a cartridge may be arranged to lie at an angle (Θ) to the vertical. Θ may be roughly 25°. In other embodiments Θ may be roughly any of the following angles: 15°, 20°, 30°, 35°, or the like. Such embodiments are advantageous as they can help to orient a tattooing machine placed in the stand such that it lies with the coils thereof oriented in a downward position which can help a tattoo artist to pick up the machine.

Thus, some embodiments of the invention may allow a plurality of tattooing machines to be held in place at once. Such embodiments allow that plurality of machines to be carried, moved, etc. as a whole and also helps to ensure that those machines are oriented together. That is and in some embodiments, as the tattooing machines are placed together within the stand, the angle of the cartridges to the vertical will cause the tattooing machines to take similar orientations. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a base tattooing machine stand arranged to receive at least one cartridge which is, in use, arranged to receive the nozzle of a tattooing machine.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provide a cartridge arranged, in use, to receive the nozzle of a tattooing machine and further arranged to be removeably mounted upon the base of tattooing machine stand.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a tattooing machine mounted in a tattooing machine stand, wherein the nozzle of the tattooing machine has a seal mounted thereon which is arranged to seal against a cartridge of the tattooing machine stand.

Such an arrangement can be convenient since it tends to result in a cheaper cartridge since a seal is not provided thereon and yet helps to prevent dirt, etc. contaminating the tattooing machine when placed in the tattooing machine stand.

The seal may comprise an '0' ring seal. The seal may be provided around the nozzle of the tattooing machine. Such an arrangement provides a convenient way of providing the seal.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a pack of cartridges together with one or more seals.

The pack may comprise a plurality of seals. Indeed, the pack may contain the same amount of seals and cartridges, or more seals than cartridges.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a desk comprising a cartridge supporting member which is arranged to hold at least one cartridge which is, in use, arranged to receive a nozzle of a tattooing machine wherein the or each cartridge is removeably mounted upon the base.

The skilled person will appreciate that a feature described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied, mutatis mutandis, to any other aspect of the invention.

Brief description of drawings

There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a schematic of a tattooing machine held within a tattooing machine stand according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the tattooing machine stand of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows an enlargement of the portion of Figure 2 encircled with the dashed line; Figure 4 shows a net suitable for fabricating a base of the tattooing machine stand as shown in Figures 1 to 3 ;

Figure 5 shows, in more detail, a cartridge as utilised in the tattooing machine stand of the preceding Figures;

Figure 6 is a cross section through a cartridge of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a user placing a tattooing machine into the stand of the preceding Figures;

Figure 8 shows and example of a typical tattooing machine suitable for use in the tattooing machine stand of the preceding Figures; and

Figure 9 shows a desk providing a further embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of drawings

The stand 2 of Figure 1 comprises a base 4 which holds, in this case, four cartridges 6a-6d. Each of the cartridges 6 is removably mounted on the stand as described hereinafter and is arranged to receive the nozzle 800 of a tattooing machine 8 (most clearly seen in Figure 7).

A stand such as the one shown in Figure 1 is available under the trade mark The Mantle™ from the Applicant: Grey Circle Ltd - www.greycircleltd.co.uk.

The stand 2 can be more clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3. It will be seen that in this embodiment the base 4 comprises a cartridge supporting member 200 which has four 'U' shaped slots 202a-d therein; one for each of the cartridges 6a-6d. Thus, a base may, in some embodiments, be thought of as a cartridge supporting member. The cartridge supporting member 200 has, at each end thereof, a leg 204, 206 each of which has a foot 208, 210 and an opposite end thereof to the cartridge supporting member 200. Thus, the cartridge supporting member 200, the legs 204, 206 and the feet 208, 210 constitute the base 4.

In the embodiment being described, the cartridge supporting member 200, the legs 204, 206 and feet 208, 210 are fabricated from a single piece 400 of metal, such as stainless steel. In order to form the base 4, the net 400 is bent along the lines 402- 408 as seen in Figure 4. In other embodiments, other metals (such as aluminium, silver, titanium, etc.) or indeed other materials (such as a plastics material) may be used.

It can be seen from the Figures, and in particular Figures 1 and 7, that the cartridge supporting member 200 is arranged such that it is at an angle Θ to the horizontal. Such an arrangement ensures that a longitudinal axis 10 of the cartridges 6a-6d is not vertical and is arranged to be at an angle Θ to the vertical. In the embodiment being described Θ is roughly 25°. In other embodiments, Θ may be other angles. In other embodiments, the angle Θ may lie in the range of substantially 90° to 0° to the vertical. In other embodiments Θ may lie in the range of substantially 50° to 15° to the vertical or substantially 35° to 20° to the vertical.

Figures 5 and 6 show the cartridges 6 in more detail. It will be seen that each cartridge is generally cylindrical in nature having a blind bore 500 therein, with the opening thereof at a top end region 501 of the cartridge 6. The blind bore 500 is arranged to receive the nozzle 800 of a tattooing machine and is dimensioned so as to be a relatively tight fit with the nozzle 800. Clearly, the blind bore 500 does not want to be so tight that it is difficult to add or remove a tattooing machine 8 from the cartridge, yet on the other hand it is desirable if the fit is reasonably tight in order to help prevent dirt, debris, etc. getting into the blind bore 500 and compromising the cleanliness of the nozzle 800 and the needle of the tattoo machine 8.

An annular groove 502 is provided toward a bottom region of the cartridge 6. The annular groove 502 is arranged to receive the cartridge supporting member 200 therein and as such allows the cartridge to releasably engage the base 4. A central core 504 of the annular groove 502 is dimensioned so that it is received by the 'U' shaped slots 202 within the cartridge supporting member 200. As such, each cartridge can be slid onto the base 4; ie a cartridge is slideably received by the base 4.

The cartridge 6 of Figures 5 and 6 differs in respect of the presence or not of the flange 600. Conveniently, the cartridge of. Figure 6 shows a design which is typically moulded from a plastics material such as in a moulding process whereas the design of Figure 5 shows a cartridge design which is typically machined such as if the cartridge were made of stainless steel or a similar material. Flange 600 on Figure 6 can also be conveniently used by the tattooist to steady the insertion of the nozzle 800 into the cartridge using it as a guide with his or her finger as seen in Figure 7. Embodiments as shown in Figure 5 may have the same cartridge diameter as flange 600 of Figure 6. The cartridges 6 may be fabricated from a material, such as a plastics material, in an injection moulding process. In other embodiments, cartridges may be machined from a single piece of material. Machined cartridges might typically be fabricated from a plastics material or a metal. Cartridges 6 may also be made of glass. In use, a user fits cartridges 6 into the 'U' shaped slots 202 within the cartridge supporting member 200 of the stand 2 to provide a tattooing machine stand. The blind bore 500 is then positioned ready to receive the nozzle 800 of a tattooing machine 8. The base 4 shown in the Figures is arranged to receive four cartridges, thus providing the tattooing machine stand, and as such can support up to four tattooing machines. However, other tattooing machine stands 2 may be able to support other numbers of tattooing machines. For example, stands may be provided which provide support for substantially any of the following number of machines: 1 , 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 7, the fact that the longitudinal axis 10 of a cartridge 6 is at an angle Θ to the vertical orients a tattooing machine resting in a cartridge 6 such that the motor thereof 12 rests in a downward orientation due to the influence of gravity. Such an arrangement can facilitate the user' s ability to pick up the tattooing machine in one move as illustrated in Figure 7, since tattooing machines 8 within the stand will be orientated in generally the same direction. This angle and position of rest for the tattoo machines 8 may also help the coils of the tattoo machine motor to cool more evenly since they are kept elevated. Such elevation allows air to circulate around them which can be restricted if the coils of the machine are allowed to rest adjacent a work-bench, etc.

Looking at Figure 7, an ' 0' ring seal 700 is disposed around the nozzle 800 of the tattooing machine such as that when the nozzle 800 of the tattooing machine is placed within the bore 500 the seal 700 engages the top end region of the cartridge. It will be seen that the grip 806 is adjacent a top region of the cartridge when the tattooing machine is resting within the cartridge. Indeed, in some embodiments, an upper region (which may be an upper surface) of the cartridge may support the grip 806 of the tattooing machine.

Engagement of the seal 700 and cartridge 6 can help to seal the interior of the cartridge 6 when the tattooing machine is being supported by the stand 2. It will be appreciated that the bore in which the nozzle is located is blind and as such when the tattooing machine is resting within the cartridge a substantially sealed environment can be provided to keep the needle clean and prevent contaminants spreading. Turning to Figure 8, a machine 802 is seen which comprises a nozzle 800 through which a needle 804 extends. A grip 806 has been added to the nozzle and provides location for the tattoo artist to hold the tattooing machine and it will be seen that the nozzle 800 extends below the grip 806. The coils/motor 808 of the machine can be seen at a top portion of the Figure adjacent to the upper end of the needle 804 which extends through the nozzle 800, grip 806, etc. When energised, the coils 808 cause the needle to reciprocate and, in use, tend to get hot. Cables which provide power to the coil/motor 808 are shown at 812. As shown in relation to Figure 7, some embodiments of the invention may provide a seal around the nozzle 800, typically adjacent the grip 806 in a region 810.

As such, it will be seen that embodiments of the invention are typically arranged to hold a tattooing machine which comprises at least one or more of the following: one or more (typically two) electromagnetic coils; a nozzle, a grip, a needle. Figure 9 shows a desk 900 which provides a work area 902 at which a tattooist can work. At a rear region of the work area 902 there is an up-stand 904 which supports a cartridge supporting member 906.

Although not visible in the Figure, the cartridge supporting member 906 is provided with 'U' shaped slots therein, in the same manner as the cartridge supporting member of the earlier figures. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, there are six slots, each of which is filled with a cartridge 908a-f.

As with the cartridges of the other Figures, the cartridges are arranged to lie at an angle to the vertical which is again substantially 25 degrees.