GB2559601A

GB2559601A - Stamp and die storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2559601A
Application number: GB1702284.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Blanchard Caroline
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-02-10
Filing date: 2017-02-10
Publication date: 2018-08-15
Also published as: GB201702284D0

Abstract

A die and stamp storage system that comprises of a stack of sheets 1, each being the same size and shape, each sheet having on at least one side a plurality of projections 2 enabling the sheets to be stacked together in register with one another with the projections holding them apart by a given distance. The height of the projections is greater than the thickness of the stamps or dies it is desired to store. Each sheet is generally rectangular with the projections inset from the corner of the sheet. The system may be provided with means for holding the sheets relative to one another such as a box (4 figure 3) or a drawer. The sheets are preferably transparent acrylic plastics. Part or all of one side may carry magnetic sheeting 6 for storage of dies made of ferromagnetic material.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Stamp and die storage system Abstract Title: Stamp and die storage system (57) A die and stamp storage system that comprises of a stack of sheets 1, each being the same size and shape, each sheet having on at least one side a plurality of projections 2 enabling the sheets to be stacked together in register with one another with the projections holding them apart by a given distance. The height of the projections is greater than the thickness of the stamps or dies it is desired to store. Each sheet is generally rectangular with the projections inset from the corner of the sheet. The system may be provided with means for holding the sheets relative to one another such as a box (4 figure 3) or a drawer. The sheets are preferably transparent acrylic plastics. Part or all of one side may carry magnetic sheeting 6 for storage of dies made of ferromagnetic material.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

1/2

1005 18

Fig.1

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1005 18

STAMP AND DIE STORAGE SYSTEM

This invention relates to the storage of stamps and dies used by crafters to produce hand-printed designs on sheet substrates such as paper, or to cut shapes from paper or other suitable material.

In order to produce inked designs, a very wide variety of stamps is available commercially. Each stamp is formed of a piece of silicone rubber material flat on one side which is self-adherent to a suitable base (conventionally an acrylic block), and having a relief design on the opposite side. In order to produce a design, the particular stamp desired by the user is selected, placed with its flat side on the suitable base, which acts as a temporary support, the exposed face is then inked, for example using a suitable inking pad, and the temporary support with the inked stamp is then pressed against a desired substrate, such as a sheet of card or heavy paper. The ink contacts the paper, and when the base to which the stamp is adhered is pulled away, a design corresponding to the relief image on the stamp is visible on the substrate.

It is easy to accumulate a large collection of such stamps, and it is known to store these in a variety of ways, including keeping them in their original packaging or on sheets of acrylic material to which they adhere, but from which they can easily be peeled off. Other storage means, such as wallets with pocketed inserts are also known for this purpose. Some crafters use transparent CD cases for this purpose. Such storage systems have a disadvantage that it is all too easy for the surface of the stamp, i.e. the surface reflecting the specific design, to become contaminated or damaged.

In addition to the application of inked designs, crafters also use metal dies to die cut particular shapes. After a little while, people build up substantial collections of differently-shaped dies and these can easily become damaged or lost if not properly stored. One way of storing such dies is to lay them on sheets of magnetised material, since the metal of which the dies are made is usually ferromagnetic, and they may accordingly be held in place using socalled “magnetic sheeting” without difficulty. Magnetic sheeting is commercially available in the form of a flexible magnetic sheet, so, in order to ensure that the dies are stored flat, it is known to mount such sheets on a rigid flat background for the purpose of die storage.

I have now developed an improved die and stamp storage system which overcomes some of the disadvantages of known storage systems as indicated above. In accordance with my invention, I provide a storage system consisting of a stack of sheets, each being the same size and shape, each sheet having on at least one side a plurality of projections enabling the sheets to be stacked together in register with one another with the projections holding them apart by a given distance. The height of the projections should be greater than the thickness of the stamps or dies it is desired to store and, in this way, when the sheets are stacked, the projections hold the adjacent sheet at a distance from the surface of the stamps or dies held on the sheet with the projections. The number and arrangement of the projections may vary. For most uses, the most convenient arrangement is to have four projections, each inset slightly from the corners of a rectangular sheet.

The system preferably includes means for maintaining the stack of sheets registered one with another, for example a box or a slide like a drawer in which they are arranged, preferably with the sheets in the stack in a vertical plane, since this makes it easier to select a sheet from the stack. The sheets are preferably transparent since this enables the stamp shapes to be easily seen when a sheet bearing them is extracted from the stack and held up by the user.

For silicone rubber stamps, the preferred material from which the storage sheets are made is acrylic plastics sheeting. As noted above, the stamps are formulated from a silicone rubbery material and they stick to the glossy surface of acrylic sheets in an effective fashion. They can be peeled off from one edge, but, once applied and pressed gently against the sheet, they stay in place.

The size of the sheets in a set of sheets can vary. Convenient sizes correspond to international paper sizes A3 and A4.

The preferred shape ofthe sheets is rectangular and it is preferred in order to facilitate handling of a sheet carrying a plurality of stamps or dies to provide an aperture in the sheet through which the fingers of the hand may be inserted. For storing dies, the same size and shape of sheet may be used with a magnetic sheet of material applied to one or both sides thereof. The magnetic sheet of material may be permanently fixed to the storage sheet, for example with a suitable adhesive. Alternatively, it may be backed with a layer of a peelable adhesive, e.g. a silicone rubbery material, enabling the magnetic sheet to be stuck to the face of the acrylic sheet simply by pressing the two together, or removed, if desired, simply by peeling away from one corner. The magnetic sheet may cover all or only part of the storage sheet.

By way of illustration, the attached drawings show various components of a stamp and die storage system in accordance with my invention. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a single sheet stamp storage unit.

Figure 2 is a side view of two such units in a registered stack.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a number of such sheets held in register by being located in an open-topped rectangular box.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sheet used for storing dies.

As seen in Figures 1 to 3 ofthe drawings, the stamp storage system consists of a set of identically shaped and sized acrylic sheets 1. Each acrylic sheet has four projections extending from one side, denoted 2 and an aperture 3 through which the fingers of the user may be inserted. The sheets are easy to handle and stamps may be placed on them and gently smoothed down, whereon they will stick until next required for use, at which point they can be easily peeled off and placed on a suitable holder for inking up and use.

Figure 2 shows the two sheets registered with one another and it can be seen that they are kept apart by virtue of the projections 2 so that the exposed surfaces of the stamps are not contacted by the adjacent sheet. A stack of sheets 1 is shown kept in register in an open-topped transparent plastics box 4 in Figure 4. Box 4 has cut-outs 5 in its side enabling it to be easily picked up as a unit even when full of sheets 1 with a variety of stamps adhered to each of them.

Figure 4 shows a modified sheet which is for use in storing dies. As can be seen, across the face of the sheet is a sheet of magnetic material 6. Dies for embossing or cutting can be placed on it and, so long as they are made of adequately magnetic material, they will simply stay in place. The dies have a flat side which is placed against the magnetic sheet and one or more ridges on its other side enabling paper, card or the like to be cut in conventional fashion.

Claims

1. A storage system for craft stamps and dies consisting of a stack of sheets, each being the same size and shape, each sheet having on at least one side a plurality of projections enabling the sheets to be stacked together in register with one another with the projections holding them apart by a given distance, the height of the projections being greater than the thickness of the stamps or dies it is desired to store.

2. A system according to Claim 1 where each sheet is generally rectangular and has four projections, each inset from a corner of the sheet.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or 2 and including means for maintaining the stack of sheets registered one with another, in the form of a box or a slide like a drawer in which the sheets can be arranged.

4. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheets are of transparent acrylic material.

5. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein one or more of the sheets has a sheet of magnetic material applied to all or part of at least one face thereof, for holding ferromagnetic dies.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1702284.9 Examiner: Mr Christopher Saul