AU659503B2 - Improvements in stamping devices - Google Patents

Description

i- 1 659503

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: JAMES THOMAS LANE 94 Go e0.

C, 4 C 4 Actual Inventor: JAMES THOMAS LANE Address for Service: CULLEN

CO.,

Patent Trade Mark 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

Attorneys, Invention Title: II 4 I If 1 (4 4 44 4 4 44 4 IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPING DEVICES Detail of Associated Provisional Application: Application No. PK3166 dated 5 November 1990.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 The present invention relates to stamping devices used to apply markings to documents such as corporate seals..

In particular, although not exclusively, it relates to a stamp and a protective cover which protects the stamp during periods of non-use and facilitates storage of the stamp.

Conventional stamps include a stamping portion and a handle. The stamping portion includes a backing plate to which the handle is secured and an ink applying portion bearing an impression of indicia formed thereon, the inki0 applying portion being secured to the backing plate. The major problem associated with conventional rubber stamps is that when the stamp is used, a large proportion of ink is CC retained by the ink-applying portion. This ink may then be inadvertently transferred to othex articles with which the stamp is stored, for example othe:t documents in the user's briefcase. The ink may even be transferred to other portions of the stamp itself with the consequence that the user gets ink-stained hands the next time the stamp is used. The ink also acts as as an adhesive for dust and fluff particles, necessitating cleaning of the stamp in order that a clean impression may be obtained. Another problem with conventional stamps is that they tend to be large and bulky and do not easily lend themselves to being stored. Further, the usual configuration of the handle being secured to the centre of the stamping portion results in the stamp being susceptible to breakage.

In an endeavour to overcome these prior art problems and to make stamps compact for storage purposes a detachable handle has been proposed. However, it will be appreciated i 3 that it is inconvenient to attach and then detach the handle when it is desired to use the stamp. Moreover, the problems of ink contamination are increased as it is necessary for the user to handle the stamping portion with his hands increasing the likelihood of getting inkstained hands.

Some of the storage problems associated with stamps have been addressed by PCT Application No.

PCT/AU89/00179 which discloses a stamp having a base and a handle which is moveable between two folded positions each alongside the base and an upstanding operational Sposition. The handle may be releasably locked into any one of these three positions. Once again, the problem of ink contamination and dust and fluff collection on the ink applying portion are not solved. The risk of inkstaining the user's hands is also increased because the user must handle the base in order to move the handle from one of the folded positions to the operative position. In practice, the stamp is sold in a flexible plastic bag which merely exacerbates the problem of ink stains to the user's hands as the entire stamp will become covered in ink from the inner surface of the bag.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stamp and cover therefor which will substantially overcome or ameliorate, the abovementioned disadvantages.

pst In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a marking stamp comprising: a stamping portion and a low-profile gripping member secured to the stamping portion and adapted to be gripped by a user, the stamping portion including a a s mounting face having an ink-applying member mounted thereto; and, a cover adapted to releasably engage with the 35 stamping portion to cover said ink-applying member, wherein the cover is mounted on a base member which is adapted for engagement with binding members of a file LL binding.

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-i 4 The ink-applying member may be used with an inked stamp pad or may be self-inking. The ink-applying member will generally be mounted to the mounting face by adhesives and there may be an intervening layer of compressible material such as plastics foam as is known in the art.

The stamping portion may comprise a plate-like mounting member to which the ink-applying member may be attached. The stamping portion may also include a backing plate opposite the mounting face. Preferably the backing plate is transparent such that a proof sheet to which the word(s) and/or device(s) of the ink-applying member have been applied, may be inserted between the mounting member and the backing plate such that the proof sheet is visible from above the backing plate. The backing plate may be releasably secured to the mounting member. Preferably the mounting member has a resilient peripheral rim extending away from the mounting face and the rim may flex outwardly to receive the backing plate.

The stamping portion may be any shape when viewed in plan depending on its intended use, although circular or rectangular shapes are preferred.

The gripping member may be disposed on the side of the stamping portion opposite the mounting face. The gripping i .4 4 4 4,• 4 (4I 040 2 0

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r member may be rigidily secured to the stamping portion or detachable therefrom. Preferably the gripping member is integrally constructed with the backing plate.

The gripping member may be of low profile but sufficient to enable it to be gripped between the thumb and forefinger of the user. The gripping member may comprise a flange extending perpendicular to the face of the stamping portion opposite the mounting face. Alternatively, a pair of spaced recesses in the stamping portion may form an t intervening rub portion which may be gripped by the user.

Alternatively, there may be a single recess formed in the 00 stamping portion across which a bar member may extend and able to be gripped by the user. In another form, the gripping .4 member may comprise a pair of handles hingedly connected to the stamping portion about separate axes or a common axis.

The handles may pivot between respective folded positions adjacent the stamping portion and respective upstanding positions. Preferably in their respective folded positions, the handles extend beyond the periphery of the stamping portion so that the handles can be gripped by the user without touching the stamping portion.

The cover may comprise a cap which extends over the mounting face of the stamp and engages with the stamping member. The engagement may be by way of frictional engagement between complementary tapered portions of the cover and the stamping member. To aid in engagement, one such portion may have a resilient zone. Alternatively, there may be mechanical engagement such as complementary screw threads or a bayonet fitting.

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6 The cover may be mounted on a base member which is adapted for engagement with the binding members of a file binding. The expression file binding includes post binders ring post binders, ring binders, lever arches and paper fasteners comprised of sheet metal and the like. Preferabl y the base member is a plastic sheet integrally formed with the cover, the plastic sheet having aligned holes suitably spaced so as to be engageable with a file binding.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be I ic C' described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:- FIG 1 is a perspective view of a stamp and protective cover in accordance with the preferred embodiment.

FIG 2 is a further perspective view of the stamp and protective cover of FIG 1.

FIG 1 illustrates the stamp 10 and protective cover 12. The stamp 10 comprises a gripping member 14 secured to a stamping portion 16. The stamping portion 16 is comprised of a plate-like mounting member having a planar mounting face onto which an ink-applying member 22 has been secured by adhesive or the like. The ink-applying member 22 is a plastic or rubber pad bearing an impression (not shown) of the desired indicia. There may be an intervening layer of compressible material such as plastics foam 24 between the mounting face and the ink-applying member 22.

The mounting member is provided with a resilient peripheral rim 28, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter. The stamping portion 16 also includes a transparent backing plate 30 so that a proof-sheet (not shown) t.

7 to which the indicia of the ink-applying member has been applied may be inserted between the backing plate 30 and the rim 28 may flex outwardly to releasably receive the backing Iplate Integrally constructed with -the backing plate 30 is a gripping member 14 in the form of an upright flange extending from the mounting member 18. The flange is of low profile but of sufficient height so that it may be gripped between the thumb and forefinger of the user.

1.o, i The stamping portion 16 is receivable in a cover 12 whch extends over the ink-applying member 22. The cover 12 has a base 34 and a circular wall 35. The internal surface of the wall 35 tapers uniformly outwardly in the dixection away from the base 34. The resilient rim 28 has a complementary taper.

The base 34 of the cover 12 may extend beyond the periphery of the wall 35 to form a rigid sheet 40. The sheet has aligned apertures 42 spaced so as to cooperate with a file binding such as a four-post ring binder (not shown).

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can. made thereto without departing from the scope of the present inver n.

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Claims (8)

1. A marking stamp comprising: a stamping portion and a low-profile gripping member secured to the stamping portion and adapted to be gripped by a user, the stamping portion including a mounting face having an ink-applying member mounted thereto; and, a cover adapted to releasably engage with the stamping portion to cover said ink-applying member, wherein the cover is mounted on a base member which is adapted for engagement with binding members of a file binding.

2. A stamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover and the stamping portion are provided with complementary tapered portions to permit releasable frictional engagement therebetween.

3. A stamp as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base member comprises a sheet or plate member having aligned holes suitably spaced for engagement with the binding members of a file binding.

4. A stamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stamping portion includes a backing plate opposite the mounting plate, the backing plate being transparent such that a proof-sheet bearing the impression to be made by the ink-applying member may be inserted between the backing plate and the remainder of Sa the stamping portion such that the proof sheet is visible ,from above the mounting plate.

A stamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stamping portion also includes a plate-like mounting a member for mounting the ink-applying member and wherein the backing plate is releasably secured to the mounting member.

6. A stamp as claimed in claim 4 or claim 35 wherein the gripping member is integrally formed with the stamping portion backing plate.

7. A stamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the gripping member comprises an upright rJ4 F- 9 'I 9 flange extending from the face of the stamping portion opposite the mounting face.

8. A stamp and protective cover substantially is hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 8th day of February, 1995 JAMES THOMAS LANE By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. AL a t I I e 4 e t 4 4,4 t. n 4 4' T t V 4 14 4 o 11 1 42 0kI k ABSTRACT A stamp 10 hs a protective cover 12 to protect the stamp during the period of non-use and to facilitate storage of the stamp 10. The stamp 10 has a stamping portion 16 and a gripping member 14 secured to the stamping portion 16. The stamping portion 16 has a mounting face 20 for receiving an ink-applying member 22 and the cover 12 engages with the stamping portion 16 to extend over the mounting face 9o, 9