Lighted grip and alligator clip cord for tattoo machine

• US 20050090851A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph E. Devlin
• Original Assignee: Joseph E. Devlin
• Inventors: Devlin, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,393,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/186
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0076 Tattooing apparatus apparatus for marking animals A01K11/00; vaccine applicators having needles or other puncturing means A61B17/205

Abstract

An assembly according to the present invention includes a tattoo machine, a grip attached to the tattoo machine, and a light assembly inside the grip utilizing light emitting diodes (LEDs). The assembly further includes a power supply, a power cord for connecting the tattoo machine to the power supply, and two alligator clips conductively connected to the power cord or tattoo machine which transmit power to the light assembly via wires extending from the light assembly to the alligator clips.

Claims

1. A tattoo assembly, comprising:

a tattoo machine for injecting ink into skin;

a grip for attachment to the tattoo machine;

a light assembly disposed partially within the grip, wherein the light assembly includes at least one light emitting diode and a circuit board;

a power supply for powering the tattoo machine and the light assembly;

a power cord for connecting the tattoo machine to the power supply;

a first alligator clip and a second alligator clip, wherein the first alligator and second alligator clip are conductively connected to the power cord for supplying power to the light assembly; and

a first wire and a second wire, wherein the first wire extends from the light assembly to the first alligator clip and the second wire extends from the light assembly to the second alligator clip.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the power cord includes a proximal end and a distal end;

the distal end connects to the power supply;

the proximal end connects to the tattoo machine;

the proximal end includes a tension spring, a first connector, and a second connector; and

the first connector and second connector are conductively coupled to the tattoo machine through use of the tension spring.

3. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a first mounting bracket and a second mounting bracket, wherein the first alligator clip is conductively connected to the first mounting piece and the second alligator clip is conductively connected to the second mounting piece, and wherein the first mounting piece is conductively connected to the first connector and the second mounting piece is conductively connected to the second connector.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the first alligator clip is a positive power connection and the second alligator clip is a negative power connection;

the first wire is a positive power wire and the second wire is a negative power wire; and

the first wire is conductively connected to the first alligator clip and the second wire is conductively connected to the second alligator clip.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the first alligator clip includes a positive power designation and the second alligator clip includes a negative power designation; and

the positive power designation is a red covering, partially encompassing the first alligator clip, and the negative power designation is a black covering, partially encompassing the second alligator clip.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the grip includes a proximal end and a distal end;

the distal end is closest to the power cord;

the first wire extends from inside the grip, through the distal end of the grip, to the first alligator clip;

the second wire extends from inside the grip, through the distal end of the grip, to the second alligator clip; and

the at least one light emitting diode is housed partially within the grip and extends out the proximal end of the grip to project light onto a section of skin.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one light emitting diode is operably connected to the circuit board; and

the circuit board is operably connected to the first wire and the second wire.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the grip has a longitudinal axis and a radial axis; and

the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the radial axis.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the grip includes at least one groove disposed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the grip defines an inner hole;

the inner hole runs along the longitudinal axis of the grip; and

the tattoo machine extends through the inner hole of the grip.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one light emitting diode has a diameter in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one mounting clip, wherein the at least one mounting clip is operably connected to the circuit board, and wherein the at least one mounting clip houses the at least one light emitting diode.

13. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one first screw to mount the grip to the tattoo machine; and

at least one second screw to connect the light assembly to the grip.

14. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an end cap surrounding the proximal end of the grip, wherein the end cap covers the at least one light emitting diode.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein:

the end cap is transparent.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a grip for attachment to a tattoo machine, wherein the grip includes a light assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a tattoo assembly, wherein the tattoo assembly includes a tattoo machine, a power supply, and a power cord.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

alligator clips connected to the tattoo machine to transmit power to the light assembly.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

alligator clips connected to the power cord to transmit power to the light assembly.

20. A tattoo assembly, comprising:

a tattoo machine for injecting ink into skin;

a power cord for connecting the tattoo machine to a power supply;

a grip attached to the tattoo machine; and

a light assembly disposed within the grip.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein:

the light assembly includes light emitting diodes and a circuit board.

22. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

at least two alligator clips conductively coupled to the tattoo machine to transmit power to the light assembly.

23. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

at least two alligator clips conductively coupled to the power cord to transmit power to the light assembly.

24. An assembly, comprising:

a first alligator and a second alligator, wherein the first alligator clip and second alligator clip are conductively coupled to a tattoo assembly to provide power to a device.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein:

the tattoo assembly includes a tattoo machine and a power cord; and

the first alligator clip and second alligator clip are conductively coupled to the power cord.

26. The assembly of claim 24, wherein:

the tattoo assembly includes a tattoo machine and a power cord; and

the first alligator clip and second alligator clip are conductively coupled to the tattoo machine.

27. The assembly of claim 24, wherein:

the device is a lighted grip for attachment to the tattoo assembly.

28. A lighted grip apparatus, comprising:

a grip for attachment to a hand-held device; and

a light assembly disposed within the grip.

29. The lighted grip apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the hand-held device is a surgical tool.

30. The lighted grip apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

alligator clips conductively coupled to a power cord, wherein the power cord transmits power from a power supply to the hand-held device, and wherein the alligator clips transmit power from the power cord to the light assembly.