Patent ID: 8469988

Claim:
A body piercing instrument, comprising: a handle portion supporting both a post carrier coupling for engaging a post carrier supporting a post and a nut carrier coupling; and a nut carrier engaging the nut carrier coupling, the nut carrier supporting a nut; wherein both the post carrier coupling and the nut carrier coupling are in substantially parallel sliding engagement such that the post of the engaged post carrier is aligned to pierce a body part, when disposed between the post carrier coupling and the nut carrier coupling, and engage the nut of the engaged nut carrier, when in use; and wherein the nut carrier coupling comprises a cylindrical end received within a lower coupling recess of the nut carrier, the lower coupling recess having portions shaped to match an outer shape of the cylindrical end, the lower coupling recess having a vertical feature on an end plane of the lower coupling recess and the cylindrical end of the nut carrier coupling having a mating vertical feature cut into a mating end plane of the cylindrical end for engaging the vertical feature of the lower coupling recess to prevent rotation between the nut carrier and the nut carrier coupling, and the nut carrier comprising an upper nut holder slot for holding the nut, wherein the nut carrier is a unitary piece.