BACKGROUND

The popularity of tattoos has increased and inspired refinement in tattoo equipment and the sophistication of tattoos themselves. A typical tattoo studio has a variety of tools to apply tattoos to clients. For example, a tattoo artist may have a tattoo chair, table, arm stand, foot rest, etc. All of these pieces of furniture take up space, yet may be required in order to properly apply tattoos.

The furniture used by tattoo artists is often not specifically designed to be used to apply tattoos, but rather, are used for other applications, such as in medical or beauty salon applications. Thus, prolonged use of the furniture for tattooing may be uncomfortable for both the tattoo artist and the client. For example, many tattoo artists use massage tables to apply tattoos to a client's back, shoulders, or legs. Because massage tables were not designed for the ergonomic needs of a tattoo artist, they may cause discomfort or health problems for the artist.

Moreover, commonly used furniture in tattooing may not be able to place the client in a position that naturally stretches the skin of the area that is going to receive the tattoo. In order to receive a high-quality tattoo, the skin needs to be stretched; otherwise, the tattoo may be applied incorrectly (e.g., the tattoo may be disfigured). In order to compensate, a tattoo artist typically manually stretches and holds the client's skin while the tattoo is applied. This is uncomfortable for the tattoo artist, the client, or both. Additionally, the artist may not stretch the skin in a way that it would naturally stretch, resulting in distortion of the tattoo. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that can be used to comfortably position a client for tattooing.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment describes an apparatus for supporting a person during tattooing. The apparatus can be configured such that a client can be placed in an ergonomic position, for example, a position that is comfortable for the client, the tattoo artist, or both. For example, the apparatus can be reconfigurable to adjust between different positions, such as a bed position (e.g., a horizontal arrangement), a chair position (e.g., an arrangement for supporting the client in a sitting position by articulating certain sections of the apparatus relative to the floor), or other positions. In some embodiments, the apparatus can be manually moved between different configurations. During a tattoo session, the tattoo artist can manually move different sections of the apparatus to desired locations to facilitate applying the tattoo. In motorized embodiments, the apparatus can be electrically driven between different configurations using, for example, a controller. The controller can be operated by the client and/or tattoo artist.

In at least one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can include arm sections, leg sections, a seat section, and a back section, some of which can be coupled to a frame. Each section can comfortably support and articulate different parts of a client's body during a tattoo session. For example, the arm sections can be raised, lowered, or angled in order to place the arms of a client in positions to comfortably support the arms while one or more tattoos are applied.

The leg sections can be attached such that each leg is independently movable. For example, each leg section can be rotatable in a direction perpendicular from a plane formed by the seat section. In one embodiment, each leg section can be independently rotatable about an axis parallel to a frontal plane and a transverse plane. For example, the leg sections can be rotated up to 70 degrees, 80 degrees, 90 degrees, or 100 degrees downward from a plane formed by the seat section, from a bed configuration to a chair configuration. In the same, or another embodiment, each leg section can also be rotated up to, for example, 70 degrees, 80 degrees, 90 degrees, or 100 degrees outward from the midsagittal line of the seat section to allow a tattoo artist access, for example, to the inner leg and/or lower back of a client.

In the same, or another embodiment, the back section can be attached such that it is independently rotatable in a direction that is perpendicular from a plane formed by the seat section. A client can sit with his or her back resting against the back section of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the back section can be formed to include cuts defining leg openings. In this exemplary embodiment, and when the back section is articulated such that it is generally perpendicular to a plane formed by the seat section, the cuts can be formed such that the proximal end of the back section (e.g., the end closest to the seat section) is narrower in the frontal plane than the distal end of the seat section. In an exemplary embodiment, the cuts can be formed such that the back section looks like a cobra's hood.

A client can sit with his or her back or chest resting against the back section of the apparatus. When a client sits with his or her chest resting against the back section of the apparatus, the client can straddle the proximal portion of the back section by placing his or her legs through the cuts defining leg openings. In some embodiments, when the client's chest rests against the back rest, the client's thighs can be received by the leg openings. This position allows the client's lower legs to dangle down on the back side of the apparatus while the tattoo artist has access to the client's back.

In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can have a seat section with two rearwardly extending leg supporting segments that encircle the proximal portion of the back section. In this embodiment, the rearwardly extending leg supporting segments can support the thighs of a client while he or she is straddling the back section. In this exemplary embodiment, when the apparatus is in the bed configuration, the rearwardly extending leg supporting segments can form, along with the cuts defining leg openings, a generally flat surface for a client to lie on.

In some embodiments, an apparatus can include one or more support sections configured to move independent relative to one another and to be locked at various positions. For example, a tattoo artist can manually unlock, move, and then lock the support sections to reposition the support sections any number of times during a tattoo session. In some motorized embodiments, the apparatus can include one or more drive mechanisms for controllably positioning the support sections. The drive mechanisms can include, without limitation, one or more motors, actuators (e.g., linear actuators, rotary actuators, etc.), solenoids, servos, rail mechanisms (e.g., linear-rail mechanisms, carriage and rail mechanisms, etc.), and/or other components for providing desired motion. The motors can be, without limitation, drive motors, stepper motors, servomotors, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, apparatuses disclosed herein can include one or more electromechanical mechanisms, pneumatic mechanisms, hydraulic mechanisms, power supplies, and/or the like.

A controller can be used to position the support sections, such as a back section, a seat section, and/or leg sections. The controller can include input/output elements, memory, circuitry, processor(s), and other components. Input/output elements can be used to individually reposition each movable section. In some modes, the apparatus can be moved between preset configurations, which can be set and modified by a user. In other modes, the apparatus can be moved between non-preset configurations.

In some further embodiments, an apparatus for positioning a subject includes a seat section, a first leg assembly, a second leg assembly, a back section, a drive mechanism, and a controller. The first leg assembly is configured to support a first leg of the subject sitting on the seat section. The first leg assembly is rotatable about a first axis of rotation to raise and lower the first leg assembly and is rotatable about a second axis of rotation to move the first leg assembly toward or away from a midsagittal plane of the apparatus and/or seat section. The second leg assembly is configured to support a second leg of the subject sitting on the seat section. The second leg assembly is rotatable about a third axis of rotation to raise and lower the second leg assembly and is rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation to move the second leg assembly toward or away from the midsagittal plane. The back section is movable relative to the seat section to move the back section between a bed position and a chair position.

The controller can command one or more drive mechanisms to move at least one of the seat section, the first leg assembly, the second leg assembly, or the back section. The controller can be programmed to cause the apparatus to move between two or more preset configurations. The preset configurations can include a chair configuration, a bed configuration, and a leg assemblies configuration (e.g., an opened configuration, a widened configuration, and a spread configuration). Additionally or alternatively, portions of the apparatus can be moved between non-preset configurations to provide flexibility.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for positioning a subject for tattooing can include a seat section, leg assemblies, and means for moving the leg assemblies. In one embodiment, a controller can be in communication with the means for moving the leg assemblies and can be programmed to individually control movement of each leg assembly. In one embodiment, the means for moving the leg assemblies can include, without limitation, one or more motors, electrical drive mechanisms, pneumatic drive mechanisms, hydraulic drive mechanisms, rail systems, pistons, linkages, etc. Electronic drive mechanisms can include electrically driven linear actuators, electronic actuators, and other electronically articulatable devices. Pneumatic drive mechanisms can include pneumatically driven linear actuators, pneumatic actuators, and other pneumatically articulatable devices.

The means for moving the leg assemblies can include one or more hinges connecting the leg assemblies to the seat section or other component. In one embodiment, one hinge connects one leg assembly to the seat section and another hinge connects another leg assembly to the seat section. Each of the hinges can define an axis of rotation. The axes of rotation can be generally parallel to one another or at another desired orientation. Other types of mounting components or arrangements can be used to provide desired motion of the leg assemblies.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for positioning the subject during tattooing can include a back section, a seat section, leg assemblies, and an electronic drive mechanism. The leg assemblies are movable between different positions, such as forward positions, closed positions, lateral positions, open positions, or other positions. The leg assemblies in a forward position can be positioned generally in front of the seat section to support the subject's legs while the subject sits on the seat portion and while the subject's back is against the back section. The leg assemblies in the lateral position can be located at the sides of the seat section. For example, each of the leg assemblies can be subjacent to a lateral side of the seat assembly. The electronic drive mechanism can be operable to reconfigure the apparatus between different configurations, including a chair configuration, a bed configuration, a straddling configuration (e.g., a configuration suitable for straddling by the client), or the like.

The electronic drive mechanism can have an opening mode for moving the leg assemblies away from a plane (e.g., a midsagittal plane or a centerplane) of the apparatus and a closing mode for moving the leg assemblies towards the plane. When the leg assemblies are closed, they can be adjacent to one another and located on opposite sides of the plane. When the leg assemblies are opened (e.g., at a lateral position), they can be positioned generally along a frontal or coronal plane. In one embodiment, the controller can command one or more motors of the electronic drive mechanism to translate, rotate, and/or otherwise move sections, such as leg assemblies. The electronic drive mechanism can have various modes, including a raising/lowering mode for vertically moving the seat section, a back adjust mode for rotating the back section relative to the seat section, and/or an opening/closing mode for rotating one or more of the leg assemblies.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.

