GB2050250A - Hand stamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer set is provided comprising a holder device and a plurality of printing elements which are selectively attachable to the holder device. The holder device comprises a channel-shaped bracket member having a base wall 2 and a pair of spaced apart arms 3. A gripping portion 4 is formed on or attached to the base wall 2. A pair of co- acting multi-sided printing element supports 5, 6 are mounted between the spaced arms and the printing element supports are angularly turnable relative to the bracket member and relative to each other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand-holdable toy printer set This invention relates to a hand-holdable toy printer set.

According to the present invention, there is provided a toy printer set which comprises a holder device and a plurality of printing elements which are selectively attachable to the holder device, wherein the holder device comprises a channel-shaped bracket member having a base wall and a pair of spaced apart arms, a gripping portion formed on, or attached to, the base wall, and a pair of coacting multi-sided printing element supports mounted between the spaced arms, the printing element supports being angularly turnable relative to the bracket member and relative to each other.

According to the invention furthermore, the printing elements are each in the form of a flat plate-like member having, on its reverse face, a plurality of prongs which are positioned to engage co-acting holes formed in each side face of the printing element supports.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the holder device of the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view in greater detail than that of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 shows examples of illustrations which can be produced by the device of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the holder device comprises a channel-shaped bracket 1 having a base wall 2 and a pair of spaced arms 2, the base wall 2 having formed integral therewith a gripping portion 4. As can be seen from the drawings, the bracket 1 with the gripping portion 4 is preferably formed of two identical parts which are fixed together.

The device further includes two printing element supports 5 and 6 each of which is of square cross-section, and each of which, as is shown in Fig. 2, can be formed in two halves which are fixed together. Alternatively, the two halves may be formed so that they can be joined diagonally.

When assembled, the printing element support 5 comprises a housing having four flat surfaces 7 arranged to receive and support printing elements (not shown). At its outer end the housing has a tubular bearing surface knob 9 which is of larger diameter than that of the bearing surface 8. At its other end, the housing has a spigot 10 which is formed at its extreme end with an angular flange 11.

When assembled, the printing element support 6 similarly comprises a housing having four flat surfaces 1 2 to receive and support printing elements (not shown). At its outer end, the housing has a tubular bearing surface 1 3 and a circular knob 1 4 which is of larger diameter than that of the bearing surface 1 3. At its other end, the housing is formed with a circular opening 1 5 which fits over the spigot 10, the annular flange 11 being received in a channel 1 6 of the support 6 to prevent lengthwise axial movement between the two supports. The knobs 9 and 14, the bearing surfaces 8 and 13, the spigot 10 and the opening 1 5 are in axial alignment with one another.

In the fully assembled condition, the supports 5 and 6 are positioned in the bracket 1 with the bearing surfaces 8 and 1 3 in openings 1 7 formed in the respective arms 3.

Thus, it will be seen that, using the knobs 9 and/or 14, the supports 5 and 6 can be angularly turned in the bracket 1 together or, due to the provision of the spigot 10, separately, i.e. relative to one another.

In practice, it is essential that the surfaces 7 and 1 2 should be in, or movable into, a position where they lie parallel to a printing surface. For this purpose, each arm 3 of the bracket 1 is formed, adjacent the opening 1 7, with a segmental cam 1 8 which co-acts with four projections 1 9 formed on each of the supports 5 and 6. Thus, as the supports are turned, the cams 1 8 automatically take up positions between two adjacent projections 1 9 so that the supports are held in the correct angular positions. Movement from one position to another is facilitated by the limited resilience of the arms 3 of the bracket 1.

The printing elements, which are not illustrated, are of a resilient plastics material and each comprise a plate-like portion having, on one face thereof, in relief, at least part of a picture or other indicia. The other face is formed with, for example, four prongs which are pushed into a corresponding number of holes formed in each of the flat surfaces 7 and 1 2. These holes, which are not shown in the drawing, are preferably disposed at an angle to the plane of the surfaces 7 and 1 2 to provide a sharp retaining edge which tends to bite into the material of the prongs to assist in retaining the elements in position.

Various sets of printing elements may be provided. Thus, for example, as shown in Fig.

3, a set of printing elements may depict a dog, a tiger, a tortoise and a cat as shown in the top row. In this case, printing elements having the heads of the four animals are attached to the surfaces 7 of the support 5 and printing elements having the bodies of the four animals are attached to the surfaces 1 2 of the support 6. By turning the supports selectively, a composite figure having a selected head with a selected body may be created and printed as can be seen in the remaining rows of Fig. 3.

The holder device is preferably moulded in parts from a plastics material, the parts being fixed together, as by an adheseive, so that in the fully assembled state the device is an integral unit which cannot normally be taken apart.

The printing set hereinbefore described may form part of a boxed game or plaything which includes an inking pad, pencils, pens and a set of basic pictures. The basic pictures may, in the case of the animal prints hereinbefore described, be a jungle scene or a zoo scene so that the user can add the animals thereto.

Alternatively, the prints may be in the form of moon men" with the basic picture depicting a moon scene. Further printing elements may have prints for producing, for example, buildings, vehicles or any other animate or inanimate being or things with or without suitable basic pictures.

Claims (6)

CLAiMS

1. A printer set comprising a holder device and a plurality of printing elements which are selectively attachable to the holder device, wherein the holder device comprises a channel-shaped bracket member having a base wall and a pair of spaced apart arms, a gripping portion formed on, or attached to, the base wall, and a pair of co-acting multisided printing element supports mounted between the spaced arms, the printing element supports being angularly turnable relative to the bracket member and relative to each other.

2. A printer set according to claim 1 comprising cooperating means on said printing elements and each side face of each printing element support for attaching the printing elements to the printing element supports.

3. A printer set according to claim 2, wherein said co-operating means comprises a plurality of prongs on the reverse face of each printing element positioned to engage coacting holes formed in each side face of the printing element supports.

4. A printer set according to any preceding claim further comprising co-acting means on said printing element supports and said bracket member for maintaining said printing element supports in a position where they lie parallel to the printing surface.

5. A printer set according to claim 4, wherein said co-acting means comprises a segmental arm on each arm of said bracket member which co-acts with projections on said printing element supports.

6. A printer set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.