Monolithic Piercing Retention Without Clasp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piercing systems, particularly earlobe piercings, face issues with wear, breakage, bacterial colonization, discomfort, and aesthetics due to mechanical clasps, and previous solutions like clasp-less designs suffer from pain during insertion and imbalance.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic piercing device with a tip to guide insertion, an ovoid bulb for dilation and retention, and a stem adapted to the skin hole, balanced by an ornamental terminal part to maintain the piercing in place without a mechanical clasp, utilizing the elasticity of the skin for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical clasp is used to secure the piercing, then the piercing can be held in place, but it suffers from wear, breakage, and bacterial colonization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical clasp component entirely from the piercing system. Instead of using a clasp to secure the piercing, the design relies on the geometric shape of the piercing body and the elasticity of the skin to maintain retention, thereby eliminating the source of bacterial colonization and wear associated with clasps
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing system uses the skin's own elastic properties to provide the securing function. The geometric shape of the piercing interacts with the skin's elasticity to create a self-retaining mechanism without requiring external mechanical components, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating clasp-related issues
2Reliability
If a clasp is used to hold the piercing, then retention is achieved, but the clasp deforms or breaks and causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the clasp component that causes discomfort and deformation, replacing it with a geometry-based retention system that uses the skin's elastic properties to secure the piercing without putting pressure on or irritating the user
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical clasp system with a passive geometric retention system. Instead of using mechanical forces from a clasp to hold the piercing, the design uses the skin's elastic mechanical properties in conjunction with the piercing's geometry to achieve retention without mechanical components touching the user's body
3Reliability
If a flame-based retention system is used, then the piercing can be held in place, but it causes pain during insertion and creates imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the piercing body, specifically the ratio between the bulb diameter and stem diameter. By optimizing this parameter ratio and the overall geometry, the system achieves retention through skin elasticity without requiring forceful insertion, thereby eliminating pain while maintaining reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a comfortable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing piercing system that maintains its position without clasps, reducing bacterial colonization and discomfort, while being easy to insert and remove, and is cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
configured to ensure first of all the gradual and painless dilation of the skin hole during insertion
Implementation Method 2
a tip configured to guide the piercing through the hole and to allow the proper presentation of a dilation bulb to the said skin hole
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a monolithic piercing (1) designed to be inserted in a previously pierced hole in the skin of a user, the piercing comprising: •—a tip (110), configured to allow guiding and suitable presentation of an expansion bulb during its insertion into the hole in the skin; •—the expansion bulb, (120), having an ovoid profile and variable cross-section having a plurality of different perimeters, only one of which is maximum, the bulb (120) being configured to ensure a gradual and painless expansion of the skin during guiding of the piercing into the hole; •—a rod (200) configured to adapt to the tunnel hole of the skin and enabling support of the piercing; •—an end portion (300) consisting of an ornamental relief, which has a volume and/or a characteristic dimension that is sufficiently large to prevent the piercing from passing through the hole in the skin; and •—wherein the tip (110), the bulb (120) and the rod (200) cooperate in order to ensure a triple function of insertion, holding in place and removal of the piercing allowed by the guiding and expansion of the hole; •—wherein the perimeter PB of any cross-section of the bulb (120) is greater than the perimeter PP of any cross-section of the tip (110) and than the perimeter PT of any cross-section of the rod (200); and •—wherein the weight of the ornamental end portion (300) is less than or equal to the combined weight of the tip (110) and the bulb (120).