Abstract:
A power supply that includes a housing for retaining the electronic components needed to operate a tattoo machine. The housing includes a first region in which the tattooing controls are located and a second region that includes a display screen. The first and second regions are separated from each so that a plastic covering can be drawn over only the first region to protect the tattooing controls while leaving the display screen unobscured.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is being filed concurrently with a U.S. Design patent application entitled POWER SUPPLY FOR A TATTOO MACHINE, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention generally relates to power supplies. More particularly, the invention relates to a power supply for a tattoo machine. Specifically, the invention relates to a power supply in which the controls for tattooing are at one end of the device and the display screen is at the opposite end thereof, so as to permit selective sanitary covering of only the tattooing controls end of the supply during use, thereby leaving the display screen clearly visible. 
     2. Background Information 
     The trend for applying tattoos to the skin has been rapidly increasing over the last several years. The tattoos are applied by a tattoo artist who utilizes a powered needle to deliver colored ink in a pattern to an area just below the surface of the skin. Some of these powered needles form part of hand-held pen-like devices which reciprocate the needle and thereby make multiple punctures in the skin. Some of these pen-like devices may be connected to a power supply which is adjustable to allow the artist to regulate the intensity of the motion of the needle. The artist can adjust the power supply to regulate the frequency of the needle&#39;s reciprocation and the depth to which the needle will penetrate the client&#39;s skin. For example, the power supply will be set to provide a high current in order to plunge the needle deep into the skin for creating the image outlines, then adjusted to a lower current for plunging the needle to a shallower depth to shade between the lines. 
     The tattoo business is risky in nature because of the utilization of needles in puncturing of the client&#39;s skin during intradermal application of ink. The potential for disease transmission is of concern and consequently health departments tend to crack down on tattoo parlors by passing new health regulations and conducting spot inspections in order to safeguard both employees and clients. These regulations typically require that the tattoo artist utilize single use gloves, needles, plastic covers for power supplies, plastic sleeves for power cords and covers for the hand-held portion of the tattoo machine. All of these single use articles have to be disposed of after servicing each client and the entire area, including the power supply, must be cleansed with an approved disinfectant. New protective materials must then be applied to all of the equipment. 
     The global tattoo business is a relatively small market and as tattoo power supplies can last a decade or more, the vast majority of manufacturers utilize jobber boxes or enclosures as the housing for a tattoo machine power supply. Jobber boxes are basically rectangular metal boxes that are available in a variety of colors and sizes. The manufacturer drills the necessary holes in the jobber box so that knobs, controls and any other components can be mounted thereon. Jobber boxes, however, have many shortcomings in regards to executing sanitation regulations. For instance, all jobber boxes that are used as power supply housings include at least one large rotary knob that protrudes outwardly away from the box. This knob and any other controls may be manipulated several times by the artist during a single session. The area around the controls is typically not sealed against liquid penetration caused by having to spray disinfectant on the supply and this puts the wiring and other components housed within the box at risk during sanitization procedures. Furthermore, because of the sanitary regulations the controls must be covered during use. Most of the time, an artist will place a small plastic bag over the knobs and other controls to protect the same. This aids in preventing the controls from becoming contaminated as the artist moves back and forth between handling the client&#39;s skin and touching the controls. The power supplies also typically include a digital display or analogue gauges so that the artist can track how much he is adjusting the device. The plastic bags that are slid onto the power supply to cover the knobs and controls frequently tend to obscure the display screens and have to be moved so that the artist can see the display more clearly. This tends to uncover the knobs which have to be protected, leaving them open to contamination. It is therefore frequently necessary to physically remove the knobs from the power supply in order to sanitize them properly. 
     In addition to these shortcomings, the tattoo machine with its power supply is typically owned by the artist who will often travel and work in different tattoo parlors. Consequently, the tattoo machine and power supply will often be moved from one tattoo parlor to another. While the power supplies are typically fairly small, being approximately 8″ wide and around 4 inches high, they are generally quite heavy and a little difficult to maneuver. Furthermore, jobber boxes are all rectangles and the knobs and displays are mounted externally and protrude outwardly away from the exterior wall of the box. The power supply is also usually placed on a desk height counter or a small shelf just under the counter to keep the display and control knobs accessible to the artist. The artist&#39;s head and eyes will typically be higher than the counter top or shelf so front mounted display screens are not optimum for viewing ease. Also, when the jobber box is placed on a shelf just under a counter, top mounted knobs prove to be difficult to access and adjust. The protruding knobs also cause additional problems in that they are prone to be impacted as the jobber box is moved from one location to another. One of the most common failures of these jobber box type power supplies is the tendency for knobs and controls to be broken off or damaged as the power supply is moved from one location to another. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for an improved tattoo machine power supply that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device of the present invention comprises a power supply that includes a housing for retaining the electronic components needed to operate a tattoo machine. The housing includes a first region in which the controls are located and a second region that includes a display screen. The first and second regions are separated from each so that a plastic covering can be drawn over only the first region to protect the controls while leaving the display screen unobscured. The first region slopes upwardly from the front wall of the housing to the rear wall thereof so that the controls are easily seen and ergonomically operable. The second region extends above the first region to protect the controls from possible impact. A portion of the second region slopes rearwardly from the front wall toward the rear wall and at an angle of about thirty degrees to vertical. The sloped portion of this second region includes the display screen. The angle on this sloped portion enables the display screen to be easily seen during use of the tattoo machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a tattoo machine power supply in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a first side view of the power supply of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the power supply of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the power supply of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the power supply of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a second side view of the power supply of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the power supply connected to a tattoo machine and a foot operated speed controller; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the power supply with a protective covering shown partially drawn over the tattooing controls; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the power supply showing the protective cover pulled fully over the tattooing controls which are thereby protected against contamination; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tattoo machine power supply in accordance with the present invention showing an alternative type of tattooing control; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the power supply of  FIG. 10  shown with a blister shield shown covering the tattooing control to protect the same from contamination during the tattooing procedure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , there is shown a power supply in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  10 . Power supply  10  comprises a housing  12  having an exterior wall  12   a  that defines an interior cavity (not shown). The interior cavity houses a plurality of electrical components (not shown) for driving a hand-held tattoo machine  50  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     Exterior wall  12   a  includes a bottom wall  14 , a front wall  16 , a rear wall  18 , side walls  20 ,  22  and a top wall  24 . Top wall  24  is shaped and includes a first section  24   a , a second section  24   b  and an intermediate section  24   c . Front wall  16  extends from side wall  20  to side wall  22 . Front wall  16  includes a first area  16   a  adjacent side wall  20  and a second area  16   b  adjacent side wall  22 . First area  16   a  extends upwardly from bottom wall  14  to first section  24   a  of top wall  24  and terminates in a first front edge  26 . First front edge  26  is spaced a distance D 1  away from bottom wall  14 . Second area  16   b  extends upwardly from bottom wall  14  to second section  24   b  of top wall  24  and terminates in a second front edge  28 . Second front edge  28  is spaced a distance D 2  away from bottom wall  14  and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , D 2  is greater than D 1 . 
     In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, second area  16   b  extends vertically upwardly from bottom wall  14  until substantially level with first front edge  26 . Second area  16   b  then slopes rearwardly at an angle of between twenty degrees and forty degrees from vertical toward back wall  18  ( FIG. 2 ). The angle of display screen  30  preferably is thirty degrees from vertical. This sloped portion of second area  16   b  includes a display screen  30 . Display screen  30  is rearwardly inclined to make it easier for the artist to see information displayed thereon while he or she is working.  FIG. 2  also shows that second front edge  28  is spaced intermediate front and back walls  16 ,  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , rear wall  18  extends from side wall  20  to side wall  22  and includes a first area  18   a  proximate side wall  20  and a second area  18   b  proximate side wall  22 . In the first area  18   a , rear wall  18  extends from bottom wall  14  to first section  24   a  of top wall  24  and terminates in a first rear edge  32 . First rear edge  32  is spaced a distance D 3  away from bottom wall  14 . In the second area  18   b , rear wall  18  extends from bottom wall  14  to second section  24   b  of top wall  24  and terminates in a second rear edge  34 . Second rear edge  34  is spaced a distance D 4  away from bottom wall  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , distance D 4  is greater than distance D 3 . 
     In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention and referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it may be seen that D 3  is greater than D 1 . Consequently, first section  24   a  of top wall  24  slopes upwardly from first front edge  26  toward first rear edge  32 . The portion of the housing extending between first area  16   a  and second area  18   a  and including first section  24   a  of top wall  24  comprises a first region  36  of power supply  10 . 
     In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention and referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the portion of the housing that extends between second area  16   b  and second area  18   b  and includes display screen  30  and second section  24   b  of top wall  24 , comprises a second region  38  of power supply  10 . First and second regions  36 ,  38  of power supply  10  are disposed laterally adjacent each other and the division point between the two regions is essentially the intermediate section  24   c  of top wall  24 . As shown in  FIG. 1  intermediate section  24   c  is substantially vertical and separates the lower first region  36  from the higher second region  38 . First region  36  is therefore effectively recessed relative to second region  38 . 
     In accordance with yet another specific feature of the present invention, first region  36  includes one or more control members  40 . Each of these control members  40  is operationally linked to an electronic component housed within the interior cavity of power supply  10  and is provided to be used during tattooing of the client. Each of the control members  40  is preferably substantially flush with first section  24   a  of top wall ( FIG. 6 ) and essentially no portions of said control members  40  project outwardly beyond first section  24   a , thereby reducing the possibility of control members  40  being damaged by objects impacting the same. Control members  40  shown in  FIGS. 1-9  preferably are of a membrane type that is sealed against liquid penetration. All of the tattooing control members  40  are located in first region  36 . The slope on first section  24   a  of top wall  24  provides ease of both access and sight for the artist. Furthermore, because first region  36  is substantially recessed relative to second region  38 , control members  40  are protected against impact and potential damage. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, display screen  30  is located entirely within second region  38  of power supply  10 . As such, display screen  30  is spaced a distance away from the tattooing control members  40 , Consequently, the tattooing control members  40  are located in a discrete first region  36  of power supply  10  and the display screen  30  is located in a second discrete region  38  of power supply  10 . Any other controls (not shown) which are not used during tattooing and will therefore not become contaminated with bodily fluids, may be provided in the second region  38 . Examples of such controls could be an on-off switch for the power supply  10  or an on-off switch or brightness controller for the screen itself. These non-tattooing controls will be activated before the tattooing procedure is begun and may either be deactivated after the tattooing procedure is completed or can be left in a preset position even when power supply  10  is not in use. The separation of the tattooing control members  40  from display screen  30  is important in that it allows the tattooing control members  40  to be separately covered to prevent contamination during use but, at the same time, allows the artist to clearly see display screen  30  while he works. 
     Power supply  10  further includes a plurality of legs  42  that extend downwardly from bottom wall  14  to engage a planar surface and thereby keep bottom wall  14  spaced a distance away therefrom. This allows heat to escape from power supply  10 . Power supply  10  further includes a first and a second jack  44 ,  46 , which are both disposed on front wall  16  beneath display screen  30 . One of first and second jacks  44 ,  46  is designed to receive a first power connector  48  of a cable that operationally links power supply  10  to the hand-held tattoo machine  50 . The other of first and second jacks  44 ,  46  is designed to receive a second connector  52  of a cable that operationally links power supply  10  to a foot-operated speed controller  54 . Power supply  10  also includes an electrical socket  45  in rear wall  18  to receive an electrical cord (not shown) so that power supply  10  can be connected to an AC source. 
     In operation, power supply  10  is connected to tattoo machine  50  and to foot operated speed controller  54 . Before the artist begins his/her work on the client, they must cover the tattooing control members  40  with a protective covering, such as a small plastic bag  56 . In order to do this, the end of power supply  10  that houses control members  40  is lifted slightly off the planar surface upon which the device rests. Plastic bag  56  is opened and is slipped over the first region  36  of power supply  10  so that a first side of bag  56  is adjacent top wall  24   a  and a second side of bag  56  is adjacent bottom wall  14  and free ends of some of legs  42 . Bag  56  is moved inwardly until the edge  58  of bag  56  engages intermediate section  24   c  of top wall  24 . Intermediate section  24   c  substantially prevents bag  56  from being drawn any further across power supply  10 .  FIG. 9  shows that all of the tattooing control members  40  that are housed in first region  36 , are completely covered by bag  56 . The entire display screen  30 , however, is free of any protective covering and may therefore be easily seen by the artist. Furthermore, bag  56  does not contact jacks  44 ,  46  and therefore does not interfere with the cables  57  that extend between jacks  44 ,  46  and tattoo machine  50  and speed controller  54 . The cables  57  also do not interfere with the bag  56  and therefore do not prevent the bag  56  from being completely pulled over control members  40 . 
     Once bag  56  is in position and is covering first region  36 , the artist places power supply  10  on an appropriate planar surface. That planar surface may be either at counter top height or on a shelf, as the inclined display screen  30  allows the artist to easily view the same. When the artist is ready to work, he engages the appropriate tattooing control members  40  by pushing down on bag  56  to set the initial output, such as the voltage, current etc., from power supply  10 . If a non-tattooing control, such as an on-off switch, is located on second region  38  instead of first region  36 , that non-tattooing control does not need to be covered as it will not be touched at all during the tattooing procedure. Such a control will be engaged prior to the artist beginning his work and will not be touched until after the tattoo is completed, the bag  56  is removed and it is time to decontaminate power supply  10 . 
     When the artist is ready to tattoo his client, he uses a foot to engage speed controller  54  to activate the electronic components within power supply  10  and thereby provide power to the handheld tattoo machine  50 . Display screen  30  shows information  60  thereon to indicate to the artist the levels that the various control members  40  are set at. When the artist wishes to adjust any one of the electrical outputs from power supply  10 , such as the current in order to adjust the action of the needle(s) in tattoo machine  50 , he engages the appropriate one of the control members  40  through bag  56 , checks the information  60  displayed on display screen  30  and continues his work. In a single session, the artist will likely need to adjust the settings on power supply  10  via the tattooing control members  40  and check the display screen  30  several times. When the tattoo on the client is completed, the power supply  10  is deactivated. If the on-off switch is part of the control members  40 , then power supply  10  is deactivated by engaging the appropriate control member  40  through bag  56 . If the on-off switch is not part of control members  40  and is located on second region  38 , then this switch will not be touched until bag  56  is slid off from first region  36  of power supply  10  and is disposed of in accordance with the appropriate health regulations. After bag  56  is removed and the artist has decontaminated his hands, the switch will be engaged to shut off the power supply. The entire housing of power supply  10  will then be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant. 
     In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, the housing of power supply  10  preferably is injection molded from a suitable plastic material. This reduces the weight of power supply  10 , making it easier for the artist to take the supply from one location to another. Furthermore, the plastic is water repellant and is easily cleaned and disinfected to comply with health regulations. 
     A second embodiment of a power supply is shown in  FIG. 10  and is generally referenced at  110 . Power supply  110  is substantially identical to power supply  10 , with the exception that the control members may be touch type or push button controls and/or at least one rotary knob  143 . Knob  143  preferably has a fairly wide operating range, being rotatable through around five turns or 1800 degrees. As with the previous power supply  10 , power supply  110  has the control members  140  all located in a first region  136  that is separate and discrete from a second region  138  that includes a display screen  130 . Rotary knob  143  extends outwardly away from top wall  124  of power supply  110 , but its positioning adjacent intermediate section  124   c  of top wall  124 , affords knob  143  protection from impact as supply  110  is moved between locations. Additionally, because of the slope on first section  124   a  of top wall  124 , knob  143  is relatively easily accessed no matter where power supply  110  is set up. A protective bag may be drawn over the first region  136  to cover control members  140  during use of power supply  110 . Power supply  110  is used in substantially the same manner as power supply  10 . 
       FIG. 11  shows one or more of the tattooing control members, such as knob  143 , being covered in an alternate manner by positioning a custom-made complementary sized and shaped blister shield  180  over the same. Blister shield  180  may be configured to cover just one of the components, rotary knob  143 , for example, or may extend across the entire first region  136  covering some or all of the tattooing control members. Blister shield  180  is manufactured from any suitable material that permits the artist to engage and thereby adjust the tattooing control members  140  during the tattooing procedure. 
     The power supply of the present invention addresses some of the issues and problems found in prior art devices. For example, the slope of first section  24   a  of top wall  24  provides good visibility for the artist to see and utilize the tattooing control members  40  provided thereon. The slope also gives the artist good ergonomic access to those control members  40 . Similarly, the inclined display screen  30  also gives the artist good visibility for viewing information  60  displayed thereon. The fact that the device is arranged so that tattooing control members  40  may be covered independent of display screen  30 , aids the artist in monitoring the outputs from power supply  10  while being able to easily adjust the controls without contaminating control members  40 . The materials used in the manufacture of the housing also aids in improving the ease of disinfecting the supply after each use and in reducing the overall weight of the supply. The arrangement of the various components, especially having the control members  40  positioned in such a manner that they are recessed relative to second region  38 , also aids in protecting control members  40  from impact during transport. 
     It will be understood that external shape of the power supply housing may be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention. However, the housing of any other shaped power supply must be configured so that the control members are separated from the display screen and are easily covered independently of the display screen. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.