Body jewelry tool

• US 8,579,270 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elisha M. Hansen, Mark Steves
• Original Assignee: Elisha M. Hansen, Mark Steves
• Inventors: Hansen, Elisha M., Steves, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Application Number:
  US12/860,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 292/44, 292/70, 292/78, 292/55, 292/83, 269/3, 269/6, 269/95, 254/25, 254/21, 254/19
• US Class Current: 269/6
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0035 Piercing type jewellery earrings A44C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/00 Hand-held gripping tools other than those covered by group B25B7/00 wrenches B25B13/00; specially adapted for watchmakers' or like use G04D
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53843 Tube, sleeve, or ferrule inserting or removing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53909 Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53943 Hand gripper for direct push or pull

Abstract

A body jewelry tool to aid in the application and removal of body piercing retaining fasteners comprises a tubular body of non-corroding stainless steel for a long life and ease of cleaning for sanitary use. The outer surface comprises a rubberized grip. An operational end of the device comprises an internal grasping mechanism that readily adapts to all sizes of threaded ball fasteners used as retainers on body piercings. In such a manner, the user or wearer can hold the jewelry in one hand while the tool is used to grasp and hold the retaining ball with the other hand. The device is then easily turned to remove or install the ball as necessary.

Claims

1. A body jewelry tool comprising:

a base sleeve having a cylindrical interior;

a cylindrical grasping mechanism extending from within said base sleeve interior having a prehensile end for securing a spherical retainer for body jewelry, said prehensile end having an open position and a closed position;

a substantially cylindrical outer sleeve slidably disposed over said grasping mechanism, said outer sleeve having a first position and a second position; and

,

a reciprocating means for providing a reciprocating motion to said outer sleeve between said first position and said second position along said grasping mechanism;

wherein an interior of an open top end of said outer sleeve being sized smaller than an exterior of said prehensile end, such that said outer sleeve open top end applies a radially inward compressive force to said prehensile end when said outer sleeve is in said first position and applied over said prehensile end;

wherein said tool is adapted to fit comfortably within a hand of a user; and

,

whereby said spherical retainer is secured within said prehensile end in said closed position for threadingly attaching to and removing from a threaded stem of said body jewelry.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said base sleeve further comprises a closed bottom end and an open top end opposite said closed bottom end;

and,

wherein said outer sleeve further comprises an open bottom end opposite said outer sleeve open top end.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said grasping mechanism further comprises a grasping shaft having an affixed end opposite said prehensile end, said affixed end being rigidly connected to a closed bottom of said base sleeve.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein said reciprocating means further comprises:

a spring disposed within said base sleeve interior, said spring being affixed between said outer sleeve open bottom end and said base sleeve closed bottom end by a coupler.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein a lower end of said grasping shaft is disposed within said base sleeve interior and within an open interior of said spring.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said reciprocating means further comprises:

a finger engaging means for engagement by at least two fingers of a user; and

,

a palm engaging means for engagement by a palm of a user;

wherein said at least two fingers provide a downward force upon said finger engaging means to depress said outer sleeve with respect to said base sleeve; and

,

wherein said palm provides an upward force upon said palm engaging means to depress said base sleeve with respect to said outer sleeve.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein said finger engaging means comprises a spherical member affixed around an intermediate position of said outer sleeve.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein said palm engaging means comprises a contoured exterior surface of said base sleeve closed bottom end.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein said prehensile end further comprises a plurality of deformable tabs comprising arcuate ends which are circumferentially positioned relative to one another.

10. A body jewelry tool comprising:

a base sleeve comprising a cylindrical interior, a closed bottom end, and an open top end opposite said closed bottom end;

a grasping mechanism comprising a substantially cylindrical grasping shaft extending from said base sleeve interior having a prehensile end and an affixed end opposite said prehensile end, said affixed end being attached to said base sleeve closed bottom;

a substantially cylindrical outer sleeve slidably disposed over said grasping mechanism comprising an open top end and an open bottom end opposite said open top end, said outer sleeve having a first position and a second position; and

,

a helical compression spring disposed within said base sleeve interior and around a lower portion of said grasping shaft, said spring being affixed between said base sleeve closed bottom end and said outer sleeve open bottom end by a coupler for providing a reciprocating motion to said outer sleeve;

wherein an interior of said outer sleeve open top being sized smaller than an exterior of said prehensile end, such that said outer sleeve open top end applies a radially inward compressive force to said prehensile end when said outer sleeve is in said first position and applied over said prehensile end;

wherein said prehensile end further comprises a closed position when said outer sleeve is in said first position and an open position when said outer sleeve is in said second position;

wherein said tool is adapted to fit comfortably within a hand of a user; and

,

whereby a spherical retainer is secured within said prehensile end in said closed position for threadingly attaching to and removing from a threaded stem of body jewelry.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein said prehensile end further comprises a plurality of deformable tabs comprising arcuate ends which are circumferentially positioned relative to one another.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein said outer sleeve further comprises a finger engaging means comprising a spherical member affixed around an intermediate position of said outer sleeve for engagement by at least two fingers of said user;

wherein said at least two fingers provide a downward force upon said finger engaging means to depress said outer sleeve with respect to said base sleeve.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said base sleeve further comprises a palm engaging means comprising an exterior surface of said base sleeve closed bottom end for engagement by a palm of said user;

wherein said palm provides an upward force upon said palm engaging means to depress said base sleeve with respect to said outer sleeve.

14. The tool of claim 13, wherein said plurality of deformable tabs each further comprises a textured gripping surface on an interior side.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein said coupler further comprises a flat washer having a central aperture being suitably sized to fit around said grasping shaft.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein said finger engaging means further comprises a rubber material.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein said base sleeve further comprises a contoured exterior profile having a generally hourglass shape.

18. The tool of claim 17, wherein said prehensile end further comprises a split collet clamping chuck for forming a collar around said retainer.

19. A method of securing a spherical retainer for attaching to and removing from a threaded stem of a piece of body jewelry utilizing a body jewelry tool, comprising the steps of:

providing said body jewelry tool having a base sleeve, an outer sleeve, and a grasping mechanism, said outer sleeve having a first position and a second position;

positioning said tool such that a palm engaging means is in contact with a user'"'"'s palm and a finger engaging means is in contact with said user'"'"'s fingers;

engaging said fingers engaging means;

depressing said outer sleeve and compressing a spring between said outer sleeve and a bottom of said base sleeve;

positioning said outer sleeve in said second position, thus concurrently exposing a prehensile end of said grasping mechanism and placing a plurality of deformable tabs of said prehensile end in an open position;

inserting said retainer into said plurality of deformable tabs;

disengaging said finger engaging means and expanding said spring;

returning said outer sleeve to said first position, thus concurrently covering said prehensile end and placing said plurality of deformable tabs in a closed position around said retainer;

rotating said tool counter clockwise to remove said retainer from said stem;

applying or removing said piece of body jewelry as desired;

rotating said tool clockwise to attach said retainer to said stem;

engaging said fingers engaging means and depressing said outer sleeve, thus concurrently exposing said prehensile end and placing said plurality of deformable tabs in said open position; and

,

releasing said retainer.