June 8, 1965
s. COREN ETAL '
3,187,751
EAR LOBE PIEHCING DEVICE
Filed Aug. 21, 1961
2 Sheets-Sheet 1
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June 8, 1965
s. COREN ETAL
3,187,751
EAR LOBE PIERCING DEVICE
Filed Aug. 21, 1961
_
H64
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
FIG. 5
INVENTORS
SIMON COREN
BY DAVlD RSTENTIFORD
ATTORNEYS
United States Patent 0
1
1
2
the opposed jaws. The other of the. opposed'jaws has
3,187,751
means for receiving the end of the wire which passes
EAR LUBE PIERCING DEVICE
through the ear lobe which means are constructed in such
Simon Coren, 150 Pleasant St, Attieboro, and David R.
Stentiford, Norton, Mass; said Stentiford assignor to
said Cor-en
3,182,751
Patented June 8, 1965
fashion that the instrument-may then be easily removed
from position adjacent the ear lobe leaving the wire‘in
.
Filed Aug. 21, 1%1, Ser. No. 132,798
1 Claim. (Cl. 128-330)
serted therethrough.
.
>
7
It is a feature of our invention that the element which
pierces the ear and the element which is ‘leftin the ear
This invention relates to surgical instruments and more
until the canal heals are one ‘and the same.
particularly to surgical instruments for piercing a human 10 It is a further feature of our invention that means are
ear lobe and inserting an object therethrough for the pur
provided for securely clamping the ear in proper posi
pose of creatingan earring receiving canal.
tion prior to insertion of the wire.
According to the fashion dictates of the times it is fre
' quently desirable for women to cause their ear lobes to
be pierced for the purpose of receiving a suitable ear orna
I
It is yet anotherfeature of our invention that the wire
is driven through the ear lobe by means of an instrument
15 having a spring loaded plunger and that actuation of the’
ment. Two advantages result from this procedure. First,
plunger to drive the wire through the ear lobe may be
effected by the doctor using the same hand with which
the ear ornament or earring is less liable to become dis
lodged and to be lost than is the case where earrings are
used which are frictionally engaged on the ear lobe. Sec
he is holding the instrument._
I
These and other objects and features of our invention
will appear as the description proceeds with the aid of
ond, the earring requires substantially less supporting
structure attached thereto and consequently may be con
structed of a smaller size without exposing unsightly
clamps or brackets.
According to the teachings of the prior art, it has been
the accompanying drawings, in which:
>
_ 7
FIG. 1 is a side view of an instrument embodying‘ our
invention;
.
r
Y
7
FIG. 2 is, an end view looking toward the left in
customary to pierce the woman’s ear lobe by means of a 25 FIG. 1;
needle or other cutting instrument and thereafter to insert
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the
in the ear lobe an earring or other foreign object. The
line s_3 of FIG. 2;
'
_ 7
earring or other foreign object was allowed to remain in
FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of our invention
the ear until the canal caused by the piercing had healed,
in position for piercing the lobe of an ear;
'
whereupon it was removed and other earrings could be 30 FIG. 5 is an end view looking toward the left "in
substituted as desired in its place.
FIG. 4;
Where the car was pierced by means of a sharp needle
alone, the procedure was relatively painful for the woman
and dit?cult for the doctor. The possibilities for infec
tion and other undesirable results such as production of
. FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a wire and clip for
use with our device; and
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the wire and clip of
“ FIG. 6.
‘
an unsightly scar generally have caused a large percentage
Referring now to the accompanying drawings for a
of doctors to advise women against having their ears
more particular description of our invention, we provide
pierced when this method was the only one available.
an ear lobe piercing device as seen in FIG. 1 having two
Another disadvantage to this type of ear piercing is
opposed jaws 10 and 12. The jaws 1t} and 12 are mounted
40
the fact that the foreign object or earring had to be in
for parallel movement towards and away from each other.
serted in the pierced ear lobe before the piercing needle
This movement is accomplished by providing a pair of
was withdrawn. This required stretching the ear to ac
handle elements 14 and 16 suitably curved toward their
commodate the additional material and was generally
lower extremity to ?t in the palm of the hand. The
Under the teachings of the prior art, devices have been
handles 14 and 16 are pivotally connected by pivot means
18 as in conventional pliers and are provided with upper
unsatisfactory.
constructed to ‘accomplish the piercing of ears. These
generally unwieldy and cumbersome devices have proven
unsatisfactory with the medical profession and have not
been used to any great extent. The devices constructed
under the prior art almost universally divorced the pierc
ing and earring threading steps of the operation.
portions 20 and 22..
~
'
The jaws 10 and 12 are pivotally connected to the
upper portions 20 and 22 respectively by means” of bolts
50
24 and 26 provided with nuts 28 and 30. The bolts 24
and 26 are equally spaced from the pivot 18. The jaws
Ill and 12 are provided with lower portions 32 and 34
It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide
a device for piercing the ear lobe which is easy to operate,
as seen in FIG. 4 which extend through the handles 14
It is a further object of our invention to provide a
novel stud or wire which is constructed to be driven
through the ear lobe to create the desired canal and which
may be left therein until the canal has healed.
In the practice of our invention in a preferred embodi
44 and 48 are connected between the lower portions 32 .
and 16 respectively. Parallel pins 36 and 38_ are
small in size, accurate and safe.
provided
through the handles 14 and 16 in the path
It is a further object of our invention to provide a 55 of the jaws 1t} and 12, equally spaced from the
device for inserting a wire or stud into the ear which may
pivot 18. Upwardly extending slots 40 and 42 are
be left therein until the canal has'healed ‘and which de
provided in the lower portions 32 and 34 respec
vice accomplishes the piercing and inserting operation in
tively to receive the pins 36 and 38 and to permit vertical
one step.
movement of the jaws relative to the pins. Coiled springs
and 34 of the jaws 1t} and 12 respectively and the ex
treme lower ends of the associated handles 14 and 16.
The springs are connected to the handles 14'and v16 by
inserting the end of the spring within the handle, which
65
ment thereof, we construct an ear lobe piercing device in
may be hollow or drilled out for the purpose,-as'indicated
the form of a hand instrument having opposed jaws which
at 50 in FIG. 4.
i
are movable toward and away from each other between
It will now be observed that through the action of
which the ear lobe to be pierced may be clamped. One
the springs 44 and 48 the device will normally assume
of the jaws is provided with means for receiving a stud
the open position of FIG. 1. Upon movement of the
or wire which has a sharpened point, and for driving 70 handles 14 and 16 toward each other, the jaws 1,0 and
the wire through the ear lobe while it is clamped between
12 will be brought together as shown in FIG. 4. The
3,187,751
A
the wire held within the bore 88 through the ear lobe.
In order to soften the ?ring of the- driver-86 a resilient
rubber washer 100 ‘is positioned around the shaft 9%)
adjacent the knob 94 and absorbs some of the force of
movement of the jaws 10 and 12 toward and away from
each other 'will be parallel at all times. due to the re
straining action of the pins fi?iand 38 which are free
to travelonly in the slots 40 and 42.
Positioned between the jaws 10 and 12 :is a pressure
the abrupt stopping. of the driver and the associated
. plate 52. The‘ pressure plate 52 ‘is mounted to the jaw
'12 by a ?rst rod 54 and a second rod 56. The pres
110186.
Due to the action of spring 98, it will be observed that
the 'driver 86 normally assumes the extended position
of FIGS. 1 and 3. The length of the driver is initially
selected so that in extended position the outer wall 99
surrounding the bore v88 will be located adjacent but not
touching the pressure plate 52. The downwardly e7.
sure plate 52 is secured to the rods 54 and 56 by
any suitable means such as soldering and the ends of
the rods which are located adjacent the jaw 12 are se
cured thereto as by insertion in a drilled hole and sol
dering.
‘
V
The rod 56'extends through the pressure plate 52 in"
~ tending slot 676 in the plate 52, is of suf?cient width‘ to
the form of an extension 58. The jaw 10 is provided .
with a transverse passage 60 within which axial move
permit passage therethrough of the shaft 70 of the wire
but isv not su?iciently ‘wide to permit passage of the
ment of the extension 58 is possible. The passage 60 is
head 68 thereof.
enlarged in diameter at its end nearer the pressure plate '
52 to provide a cylindrical bore ‘62. A coiled spring 64
is positioned within this bore surrounding the extension
58~and with one end thereof adjacent a shoulder 61
formed at the juncture of passage 60 and bore .62 and
j
i
In order to actuate the driver 86 a trigger 102 is pro
vided having a lower handle portion 104 and an upper ‘
latching arm 10b. The trigger 102 is pivotally con
. nected to the jaw 12 .at pivot point108. An opening
withthe other end adjacent the pressure plate 52.' The e _
coiled spring 64 aids in providing easy opening of the
device from closed position.
The uppermost portion of the pressure plate-52 is pro
vided with a downwardly extending slot>66 'so that the
Wire hereinafter to be described may pass through the
pressure plate 52 without coming into contact therewith.
In combination with our ear lobe piercing device. we
employ‘ a specially constructed wire or stud having a
head portion 68 which is generally cylindrical in con
?guration. Integrally formed with the head 68 is‘ an
axially extending shaft 70 ‘provided with a sharp point
772.. An annular groove 74 is formed around. the shaft
70 adjacent the tip 72. The wire, as this stud element
110 is provided in the bottom of the barrel t84'to receive
the latch member 106 which normally assumes the posi
tion of FIG. 3 extending within the .barrel 84. This is
due to the action of‘ a spring loaded pressure pin 111
which is slidably positioned in the jaw 12 and bears
against the undersurface of the arm 104 of the trigger
102.‘
In order to cock the driver 86 anannular wedged
shaped circumferential groove 112 is provided around the
driver 86 adjacent the ?ange 96. The groove 112 is
formed by providing a tapered portion 114 in the driver
86 tapering from the full diameter of, the driver 86'to
the smaller diameter-of the shaft 90 and terminating at
the ?ange 96.
.
diameter of the shaft 70 is that of the desired canal
through‘the ear lobe.
A clip element 76 is providedfor insertion on the end
of the wire having two opposed arms 78 and 80 which
exert a pressure upon theshaft' 70 after it is passed
through the clip 76. The arms 78 and 80 serve to lock
The latch portion 196 of the trigger‘ 102 ‘is positioned
to extend into the barrel 84 a su?icient distance to reside
in the wedge-shaped groove 112 and bear against the ?ange
96 when it is positioned adjacent thereto. In order to
cock the device the driver 86 is Withdrawn. away from the
pressureplate 52 by drawing upon the knob 94 until the
latch member 106 is engaged in the annular groove 112.
This position is initially selected such that when the driver
is cocked in such fashion only the shaft portion 70 of the
the clip 76 upon the end of the wire by engagement of
wire extends beyond the jaw 12, as seen in FIG. 4.
‘is generally known, may be constructed of any suitable
material but is preferably constructed 'of ‘gold. The
'
pierce the ear lobe and to serve as the earring or stud '
To actuate‘ the driver the doctor need only depress the
handle 1G4 of the trigger 102 thereby lowering the latch
portion 106 thereof and withdrawing it from the annular
groove 112. The coiled spring 98 will then abruptly move
the driver 86 and associated wire toward the opposed jaw
left in the ear lobe to facilitate formation of the desired
10.
the arms 78 and 80 within the annular groove 74 pro-'
vided between the‘ shaft and point of the wire.
_It will be understood that one of the features of our
invention is that the wire above described is used to both
canal.
‘
In order to insert the wire through the ear lobe. driv
ing mechanism indicated generally at 32 is provided. As
seen in section in FIG. 3, the driving mechanism 82
comprises a tubular barrel 84 horizontally mounted on 55
top of the jaw 12. Slidably mounted within the barrel
The jaw 10 is ‘provided at its upper portion with a_cylin
drical portion 116 which is axially aligned with the barrel
84. A downwardly extending cut 118 is formed in the
cylindrical portion 116 to receive the end of the wire after
it has passed through the ear lobe.
In order to complete the instrument a pair of ?nger
grips 120 and 122 are proyided. These are positioned upon
84 ‘is a driver 86 having a bore 88 at its end for receiving
the handles 16 and 14 respectively to facilitate holding of
the head portion 68 of the wire. The bore 88 is dimen
the device.‘
sioned such that the wire will be securely but not tightly
The mode of operation ofour earlobe piercing device
held therein with the shaft 70 of the wire coaxially dis 60
' is as follows:
posed with respect to the driver 86. It will be noted
A wire is’ ?rst sterilized, It will be noted that since
that the depth of the bore 88 is selected‘ to be substan
the wire engages the driver only in the bore 38, the driver
tially the same as the length of the head 68 of the wire.
may be easily sterilized as by swabbing the bore 88 with
Since the wire is held in place only by residing in the bore
alcohol. The instrument is then cocked by pulling out
88, the length of the head and depth of the bore .must
be su?icient to prevent wobble of the wire. .
on the knob 94 at the end of the driver and compressing
the spring 98 until the latch portion ofthe trigger is en
gaged in the annular groove formed in the driver. The
The’ other end of the driver 86 isreduced in diameter
to form a shank 90 whichgextends slidably through a
plate 92 closing the outer end of the barrel 84 and termi
wire is then inserted into the bore 88 formed in the driver
‘A ?ange 96 extends from the shaft 90 for’ sliding ?t within '
septicconditions preserved. The loaded and cocked in
the barrel'84. A coiled spring 98 is positioned around
the shaft 90 with one end residing against the ?ange 96
and the other end residing against the end ‘plate 92. The
pierced is ?tted in the space between the pressure plate
52 and the jaw 10. The handles of the device are then
nates in a knob 94 which may be screw threaded thereon. 70 by positioning the head 68 of the wire therein with anti
coiled spring 98 provides the driving force for inserting
strument is then taken in the hand and the ear lobe to be
squeezed together until the ear lobe is ?rmly grasped be
3,187,751
6
tween the jaw 10 and the pressure plate. It will be noted
that as the ear is grasped it is also stretched slightly in
the area in which the wire will be inserted due to being
compressed between the pressure plate and the jaw 10. It
will be noted that during positioning of the ear lobe in
the device the location of the preposed canal may be accu
rately selected.
7
Apparatus for driving an ear piercing stud through an
ear lobe comprising: ?rst and second jaws pivotally
mounted for parallel relative movement; spring means for
urging said jaws apart; a pressure plate attached to and
spaced from said ?rst jaw in parallel relation thereto, said
pressure plate movable with said first jaw toward said
second jaw; means for limiting pressure plate movement
toward said second jaw; a cylinder normally mounted on
the free end of said ?rst jaw; a piston slidably carried with
The handle 104 on the trigger is then pressed slightly
toward the jaw 12 until the latch portion of the trigger
is disengaged from the annular groove in the driver. The 10 in said cylinder having means on the end thereof to re
action of the coiled spring then forces the wire through
leasably retain an ear piercing stud; spring means for bias
the ear lobe. The coiled spring is initially selected to per
ing said piston toward said second jaw; cocking means for
form this piercing operation in a quick ei?cient fashion.
compressing said spring means; trigger means for releas
The Wire being inserted through the ear lobe, it only
ing said spring means to drive said piston toward said sec
remains necessary to again draw on the knob 94 to dis
ond jaw; and said pressure plate and said second jaw pro
engage the head of the Wire from the bore in the driver
vided at their free ends with downwardly extending slots
and further to release the pressure exerted upon the ear
in axial alignment with said cylinder and ear piercing stud
lobe between the jaw 10 and pressure plate 52 slightly and
retaining means whereby said apparatus can be withdrawn
then to draw the instrument downwardly away from the
‘from an ear lobe after the piston driving and cocking
ear lobe allowing the ear lobe and the wire to pass up
operations.
wardly, the wire passing through the slot 66 in the pres—
sure plate 52 and the slot 118 in the receiving portion
116. It will be noted that the head portion 68 of the wire
will be spaced away from the ear by at least the thickness
25
of the pressure plate 52.
The clip 76 is positioned for insertion of the point 72
of the shaft 70 of the wire until the arms 78 and 80 engage
the annular groove 74 therein. At this point the wire
is securely positioned through the ear lobe and would nor
mally be left therethrough for a period of time. This
period of time would be dictated by prevailing surgical
References Cited by the Examiner
UNITED STATES PATENTS
234,881
320,991
11/80
6/85
McAlpine ___________ __ 128-329
Westcott.
‘
511,952
2,555,133
1/94
5/51
Hubash _____________ __ 128-330
Horstmann __________ __ 128-329
2,593,110
4/52
Crane et a1 __________ __ 128-329
2,713,863
2,798,491
7/55
7/57
Handerson __________ __ 128-330
Samuels ____________ __ 128-330
2,597
765,220
527,365
559,350
1903
1/57
7/56
6/58
opinion.
Since many minor variations in the device of our inven
tion could be devised by a person skilled in the art, it is
not our intention to limit our invention to the preferred
embodiment illustrated in the drawings and described in
the speci?cation. Rather, it is our intention to limit our
invention only by the spirit and scope of the appended
claim.
What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 40
Patent of the United States is:
FOREIGN PATENTS
Great Britain.
Great Britain.
Canada.
Canada.
95,452 12/97 Germany.
RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.
JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.