Patent ID: 6550356
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A compact battery powered tattooing machine comprising(i) a frame having forward and rearward locations plus a horizontal base bar and a back shelf, (ii) a needle bar housing removably mounted on said frame at a forward location, (iii) a tattoo needle assembly including a needle bar supported by said needle bar housing in a manner for reciprocating motion of said entire tattoo needle assembly, (iv) a generator of reciprocating motion mounted on said frame for effecting reciprocating motion of said tattoo needle assembly, said generator including (a) at least one electromagnet mounted on said base bar and (b) a make and break mechanism, said make and break mechanism including (b-1) an electrical contact member mounted in spaced relationship above said electromagnet, plus (b-2) a leaf spring assembly mounted at one end to said back shelf of said frame and having a free end extending between said electromagnet and said contact member, with said free end biased toward electrical contact with said contact member, (b-3) plus an armature bar secured to said leaf spring assembly and actuated by said electromagnet to make and break electrical contact of said leaf spring assembly with said contact member in an exceedingly rapid manner to thereby generate said reciprocating motion, (v) said tattoo needle assembly being connected to said armature bar for direct receipt of said reciprocating motion, (vi) a battery of at least 9 volts carried by said frame at a rearward location and having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, (vii) an electrical circuit carried by said frame for operating said reciprocating motion generator, said electrical circuit including an energy line connected to the positive terminal of said battery and a ground terminal connected to the negative terminal of said battery, (viii) a rheostat interposed in said electrical circuit on said frame for adjusting the level of energy passing therethrough so as to alter the level of the action by said reciprocating motion generator in a manner dependent upon the nature of the tattoo needle assembly selected for use in the tattooing machine, and (ix) a switch carried by said frame and interposed in said electrical circuit to open and close said electrical circuit.