Abstract:
A kit for an ear piercing cartridge includes a container having preferably a plurality of chambers or cells therein, in each of which is disposed a retaining assembly adapted to releasably receive an ear piercing cartridge. A portion of the retaining assembly is removable so that an ear piercing cartridge having different dimensions can be removably mounted in the same cell. The cassette has double sidewall construction to protect the cells which are hermetically sealed with a material sheet displaceable to access a particular one of the cells.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to containers and kits constructed to hold an earring cartridge and clutch holder and in particular, to those apparatus and kits adapted to be modified after manufacture to accommodate a cartridge having a different size. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Ear piercing cartridges are known to be contained and transported for use in plastic containers or packets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,747 to Sciara discloses a blister pack which can be readily engaged with the jaws of an ear piercing instrument. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,792,170 and 5,868,774 to Reil disclose a blister package for handling the cartridge of an ear piercing system. The blister pack is constructed so that a cartridge can be mounted to a piercing gun and removed therefrom without actually contacting the cartridge. 
     However, the packs disclosed in Sciara and Reil are specifically constructed for a cartridge type having particular dimensions, i.e. the same pack will not accommodate cartridges with different shapes and features. The pack is constructed of a flexible material so that the user can conform the pack to the cartridge to mount the cartridge to the piercing gun and remove it upon completion of a piercing operation. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder kit for an earring cartridge and clutch wherein the kit is adapted to be modified after construction to receive earring cartridges with clutches of a different size. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder kit which is constructed with an internal retainer assembly adapted to receive one or a plurality of earring cartridges. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder kit having a plurality of sealed chambers or cells in which the earring cartridges are retained. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder kit wherein chambers for the earring cartridges are constructed and arranged to retain the earring cartridges in a fixed position. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder kit having a plurality of chambers which are sealed to maintain a sterile environment for earring cartridges retained in the chambers until used as intended. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder kit having a plurality of hermetically sealed chambers in which each of the chambers is individually accessible without impacting upon the hermetic seal or contents of the remaining chambers. 
     It is another object present invention to provide a holder kit constructed of a substantially transparent material so that the holding chambers of the kit are readily viewable from an exterior thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder kit containing a hygienic cleansing towelette for use in conjunction with an ear piercing operation. 
     A kit for an ear piercing cartridge is provided which includes a container having preferably a plurality of chambers or cells therein, in each of which is disposed a retaining assembly adapted to releasably receive an ear piercing cartridge. The retaining assembly is constructed and arranged to restrict movement of the cartridge in the corresponding cell. A portion of the retaining assembly is removable so that an ear piercing cartridge having a different size and construction can be removably mounted in the cell. The construction of the kit enables the same kit to be used with cartridges of different sizes. The cassette is provided with double wall protection for the cells which are hermetically sealed with a sheet-like covering displaceable to access a particular one of the cells. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIGS. 1-4 are views of a preferred embodiment of an earring cartridge and clutch holder kit according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an earring cartridge and clutch holder kit according to the present invention is shown generally at  10 . 
     The kit  10  includes a cassette  12  or container with an outer sidewall  14 . The outer sidewall  14  is formed with a step portion  16  which extends to depressed regions  18 , 20  having a purpose described below. An aperture  22  is formed at the front of the cassette  12  adjacent the step portion  16  between the depressed regions  18 , 20 . 
     The sidewall  14  above the step portion  16  is turned inward toward an interior of the cassette  12  to provide a flange  24  or sealing surface along which an adhesive  26  is deposited. 
     Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, inner sidewalls  28 , 36  spaced from sidewall  14 , extend from corresponding portions of the flange  24  to provide separate walls for inner cells  30 , 38 . The inner sidewalls  28 , 36  extend downward to a corresponding cell bottom  32 , 40  or floor for each of the inner cells  30 , 38 . 
     Each one of the inner cells  30 , 38  is provided with a corresponding retaining assembly  34 , 42  of members  34   a-g , 42   a-g  which extend in a pre-arranged pattern from a respective one of the cell floors  32 , 40 . Member  42   c  is obscured by the cartridge  66 . The retaining members  34 , 42  are constructed and arranged to receive and retain ear piercing cartridges  64 , 66 . As shown in FIG. 3, the retaining members  34   a-g , 42   a-g  are disposed to releasably retain the cartridges  64 , 66  having particular dimensions. The retaining members are interconnected, except for members  34   d , 42   d  which, as frangible tabs, are mounted to the cell bottom  32 , 40  separate and discrete from the remaining members. 
     A lid  44  or top is hingedly connected to the cassette  12 . The lid  44  includes a sidewall  46  sized and shaped to rest against the sidewall  14  of the cassette  12  and abut the step portion  16 . In this manner of construction, when the lid  44  is closed against the cassette  12 , there is a smooth uniform exterior for the kit  10  at the interface of the outer sidewall  14  and the lid sidewall  46 . A space  48  defined by the lid sidewall  46  is sized and shaped to provide clearance sufficient for a purpose to be described hereinafter. 
     A tab  50  extends from the lid sidewall  46  to facilitate displacing the lid  44  from the cassette  12 . A finger  52  extending from the lid sidewall  46  toward the space  48  is constructed and arranged to releasably engage the aperture  22  of the outer sidewall  14  at the step portion  16 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 , a covering member  54  includes sections  54   a , 54   b  or sheets which cover respective ones of the inner cells  30 , 38 . The sheets  54   a , 54   b  are secured to the flange  24  over a respective one of the cells  30 , 38  by the adhesive  26 . Scoring  56  or lines of weakness along the cover member  54  define the pair of sheets  54   a , 54   b , and along which a respective one of the sheets  54   a , 54   b  can be individually removed from the flange to provide access to the corresponding cell  30 , 38 . 
     Each one of the sections  54   a , 54   b  is provided with a finger tab  58   a , 58   b  extending therefrom which is grasped to displace the section  54 A, 54 B along the scoring  56  against the adhesive  26  to expose the corresponding cell  30 , 38 . 
     One or a plurality of sealed sterile pad packages  60 , 62  are disposed on top of the covering member  54 . The space  48  of the lid  44  is of a sufficient size and shape so that when the lid  44  is closed onto the cassette  12 , the packages  60 , 62  can be retained in the space  48 . 
     During an ear piercing operation, the tab  50  is pulled to hingedly open the lid  44  from the cassette  12 . The particular tab  58   a , 58   b , is selected and pulled away from the adhesive  26 , the pulling operation fracturing the scoring  56  to expose one of the inner cells  30 , 38 . The remaining one of the cells  30 , 38  remains intact until needed. Thereafter, the ear piercing cartridge  64 , 66  is removed from the respective one of the retaining members  34 , 42 . The retaining members  34 , 42  permit the corresponding cartridges  64 , 66  to be removably mounted in the respective one of the inner cells  30 , 38 . 
     The cartridges  64 , 66  are manufactured separate from the cassette  12  and therefore, are manufactured separately from the retaining members  34 , 42 . In certain instances, the cartridge  64 , 66  is provided with the earring inner holder  68 , 70  as shown for example in FIGS. 3,  4 . In certain cartridge models, the inner holder  68 , 70  may have different sizes. However, the cassette  12  is mass produced on a cost-effective basis with retaining members  34 , 42  of similar construction. Accordingly, the retaining members  34   d , 42   d  are removable to accommodate inner holder  68 , 70  having a different shape, i.e. protruding further from the corresponding one of the cartridges  64 , 66 . During the assembly of the kit  10 , if the cartridge  64 , 66  to be used has an inner holder  68 , 70  of larger dimensions, the corresponding retaining member  34   d , 42   d  is removed to provide a slot or gap  72 , 74  in FIG. 4 to accommodate the larger inner holder  68 , 70 . The members  34   d , 42   d  are separately and discretely mounted to the cell bottoms so that removal of the members  34   d , 42   d  will not compromise the structural integrity of the remaining members. 
     The kit  10  is provided with the double sidewall construction, i.e. the outer sidewall  14  and the inner sidewalls  28 , 36  of the corresponding inner cells  30 , 38 , to protect the cartridges  64 , 66 . 
     It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modification and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.