Retrofit control system and power supply for a tattoo gun

• US 20100241151A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Garett Rickard
• Original Assignee: Timothy Garett Rickard
• Inventors: Rickard, Timothy Garett
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/186
• 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

A battery powered portable system of operating a tattoo gun that can be worn on the user'"'"'s arm or clipped to the user'"'"'s belt. The system directly connects to conventional tattoo guns, and offers the options of utilizing a fingertip control of the machine'"'"'s speed and ON/OFF functions or the conventional control module and foot pedal controls.

Claims

1. A retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun comprising:

a control unit housing a printed circuit board with a control logic circuit and components thereon, a visual display interface, a power switch, a battery status switch, voltage adjustment controls, a foot switch cable jack plug, a first power cable pin connector receptacle, and a second power cable jack plug;

a removable battery mechanically engaged in said control unit;

an electrical connector having a distal end with a set of spring expandable conductor arms for engagement with a tattoo gun, a proximate end having a pin connector plug matingly conformed for connection with said first cable connector, and a potentiometer voltage control for speed adjustment of said tattoo gun affixed thereon; and

a first power cable connecting said control unit to said electrical connector.

2. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical receptacle extending from said electrical connector; and

a power switch for turning on or off said tattoo gun, having an extension cable with an electrical plug matingly conformed for engagement with said electrical receptacle.

3. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 2 further comprising a belt clip affixed to a face of said control unit.

4. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 3 further comprising an elastic arm band with a pouch formed thereon adapted for housing said control unit.

5. A retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun comprising:

a housing unit having a support base from which a vertical support extends normally;

a control unit mounted on said housing unit, having a printed circuit board with a control logic circuit thereon, a visual display interface, a power switch, a battery status switch and a set of voltage adjustment controls;

a removable battery mechanically affixed to said support base in said housing unit;

a voltage and frequency generator mechanically affixed to said support base in said housing unit;

a stacked arrangement of piezoelectric motors mechanically affixed to said support base in said control unit;

fulcrum body residing atop of said stacked arrangement of piezoelectric motors;

a pivot mechanism affixed to said vertical support; and

a needle drive arm having a proximate end affixed to said pivot mechanism, a distal end affixed to a needle of said tattoo gun, and residing atop of said fulcrum body; and

a tactile finger switch for turning on or off said tattoo gun that is electrically connected to said control logic circuit;

wherein said support base mechanically connects to a frame of a conventional tattoo gun.

6. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 5 further comprising:

a screw adjust means affixed to a bracket extending from said support base; and

a compressible spring means connected between said screw adjust means and said needle drive arm so as to control the force and speed of said tattoo gun needle.

7. A retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun comprising:

a control unit housing a printed circuit board with a control logic circuit and components thereon, a visual display interface, a power switch, a battery status switch, a first power cable pin connector receptacle, and a removable battery mechanically engaged in said control unit;

a removable battery mechanically engaged in said control unit;

an electrical connector having a distal end with a set of spring expandable conductor arms for engagement with a tattoo gun, a proximate end having a pin connector plug matingly conformed for connection with said first cable connector, and a potentiometer voltage control for speed adjustment of said tattoo gun affixed thereon; and

a first power cable connecting said control unit to said electrical connector.

8. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 7 further comprising:

an electrical receptacle extending from said electrical connector; and

a power switch for turning on or off said tattoo gun, having an extension cable with an electrical plug matingly conformed for engagement with said electrical receptacle.

9. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 8 further comprising a set of voltage adjustment controls.

10. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 9 further comprising a foot switch cable jack plug.

11. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 10 further comprising a second power cable jack plug.

12. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 11 further comprising a belt clip affixed to a face of said control unit.

13. The retrofit control unit and DC power supply for a tattoo gun of claim 12 further comprising an elastic arm band with a pouch formed thereon adapted for housing said control unit.