Tattoo etching machine

Claim 1

A tattoo etching machine comprising a U-shaped body member having a top leg portion and a bottom leg portion, each connected at one end to a connecting portion, which body member has a threaded opening in the connecting portion extending in the direction of the leg portions, a non-threaded opening in the bottom leg portion extending transversely of the leg portions and in the direction of the connecting portion, and a threaded opening extending from the free end of the bottom leg portion in the direction of the bottom leg portion into the non-threaded opening therethrough, an externally threaded bearing member positioned within the threaded opening in the connecting portion of the body member having a cylindrical opening extending axially thereof, a drive shaft having a head on one end thereof extending through the opening in the bearing member for rotation therein, means for connecting a drive cable to the one end of the drive shaft exteriorly of the body member, a hollow cylinder having a radially extending threaded opening extending transversely therethrough sleeved over the other end of the drive shaft within the body member between the leg portions thereof for rotation with the drive shaft, a set screw extending through the radial opening in the hollow cylinder rigidly securing the cylinder to the drive shaft, a pin extending axially of the drive shaft from the hollow cylindrical member and offset from the axis of rotation of the hollow cylindrical member and the drive shaft, a hollow cylindrical barrel one end of which extends through the unthreaded opening in the bottom leg portion of the body member transversely of the bottom leg portion and in the direction of the connecting portion of the body member, a barrel tip secured to the other end of the barrel having an opening therethrough extending axially of the barrel, needle means extending through the barrel, one end of which is adapted to extend through the opening in the barrel tip in one position of the needle means and the other end of which includes an opening therethrough through which the pin on the cylinder secured to the drive shaft passes, whereby on rotation of the drive shaft the needle means is reciprocated into and out of the opening in the barrel tip a controlled distance, a threaded set screw extending through the opening in the bottom leg portion of the body member and into contact with the one end of the barrel for securing the barrel to the body member in axially adjusted positions of the barrel with respect to the body member, and a cover for the body member enclosing the area between the top and bottom leg portions of the body member, which cover is a U-shaped member constructed of resilient material having a connecting portion and a pair of leg portions, which leg portions converge slightly toward each other with the cover not assembled on the body portion, whereby on assembly of the cover with the body portion the leg portions are spread apart and the resiliency of the cover material holds the cover on the body member.