Nut carrier for body piercing instrument

Abstract

Various embodiments o f the invention employ a nut carrier which includes a vertical engagement feature and molded spring fingers to couple to a body piercing instrument. The vertical engagement feature prevents rotation o f the nut carrier relative to the body piercing instrument and the molded spring fingers provide a secure engagement over a rounded flange o f the body piercing instrument. The nut carrier is implemented as a component in a body piercing system that employs separate carriers for the nut and the post. The novel nut carrier simplifies manufacturing eliminating a welded two part flange previously employed in the body piercing instrument.