US2948214A

US2948214A - Embossing seal and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US2948214A
Application number: US635368A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph M Lotsch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-01-22
Filing date: 1957-01-22
Publication date: 1960-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-09

Description

J. M. LOTSCH Aug. 9, 1960 EMBOSSING SEAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1957 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR. JQsEPH M. .Lc'rscH Aug. 9, 1960 J. M. LOTSCH EMBOSSING SEAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x a! FIG. 7. m H /6' 4;- I 22 INVENTOR.

JO5E PH M. LoTscH him-Wm) 1960 J. M. LOTSCH 2,948,214

EMBOSSING SEAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 22, 1957 3 heets-Sheet 5 FIG. 9.

i a! 47 40 H I 4 l| y it w wll. 0' I I ml. f/ 37 FIG. I0.

FIG. ll

. INVENTOR. r JO$EPH M. LOTSCH W id .97 J lrraawexr EMBOSSING SEAL AND METHOD OF I MAKING SAME Joseph M. Lotsch, Rockville Center, N.Y. Filed Jan. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 635,368

v 5 Claims. (Cl. 101-3 This invention relates to improvements in manufacture of seals, and more particularly to impression seals for embossing some particular designation on paper or the like, such as commonly used by corporations, notaries and others.

There has been on the market a seal generally designated in the trade as a Roovers all steel seal the construction of which is shown for the most part in US. Patent 1,162,883 of Dec. 7, 1915. The present invention contemplates improvements upon that Roovers seal by which it may be made more economically and to obtain more satisfactory assembly and operation.

It may be pointed out that in the manufacture of both the Roovers construction and the construction of the present invention, each starts out with a resilient strap in fiat condition and in shape resembling, more or less, a flat dumb-bell, thereby providing enlarged end portions integrally formed with an interposed narrower connecting portion. In both constructions, one of the enlarged end portions is constituted as'the female die by cutting, carving, etching, engraving or otherwise forming thedesired depressions therein, or by attaching a pre-formed female die thereto. In manufacture of the Roovers construction, the next step is to make a male die or counter.

complementary to the female die for mounting on the other enlarged end portion of 'the strap. The strap is.

bent in the form of a loop to bring the two enlarged portions in substantial opposition, after which it is necessary to adjust the male die or counter for exact registration with the female die and to apply backing material between the male die and the enlarged strap portion on which it is mounted to compensate for variations which would prevent the two die members otherwise from meeting squarely.

In manufacture of the Roovers seal, the male die has;

been commonly constructed by applying a sheet of steel, or tin plate, on the female die, and then, 'by applying adequate pressure, the steel is forced into the depressions of the female die, thereby forming the steel into a counter with a face more or less complementary to the female die. The impressions made on the steel, however, have to be gone over to eliminate imperfections, and expert labor has to be employed for that purpose. It may be observed 2,948,214 f atented Aug. 9, 19 69 ice ation to make impressions. The seal consequently has re quired heavy reenforcement behind the dies, remember ing of course, that the male die is tin, having no resiliency and being readily bent.

' In its basic aspect, the present invention is directed to improving the method of manufacture of and the resultant seal of Roovers type.

Likewise broadly, the invention contemplates more economical mode of manufacture and a less expensive seal construction. 7 Somewhat more specifically, the invention proposes a reduction of fabricating operations in the manufacture of the improved seal.

An accomplished desideratum of the invention resides in precise registration of the dies in the completed seal without necessity for mounting and shimming experts.

Of more detail nature, an object of the invention isto enable the strap to be looped to assume its final shape and position before the male die or counter'is made. A

Another object of the invention is to form the male die or counter directly in place both as to' complementary exactitude and registration with the female die and as to permanent mounting on the looped strap.

, A further object of the invention is to provide for con-' venient introduction, retention and substitution of the looped strap and its particular dies in a single seal press without any disturbance to the precision of registration that in order to apply the enormous pressure necessary to obtain cold-flow of the steel into the depressions of the female die, that operation has to be carried out while the strap, of which said die is a part, is flat so as to enable the die and tin plate to be insertable between an anvil and hammer. After the female and male dies are made, the male die is stripped from the female die and mounted on a backing, and then, after the strap has been looped,

" the male die is mounted on the end portion of the strap that overlies the female die. Expert labor to properly register and shim the male die is required at this stage of manufacture. It is a fact that the male die cannot be mounted with such precision that registration of the male. and female dies will be invariably perfect throughout,

and as a result a considerable pressure is required in oper- I of the said dies integrated with said loop.

7 Other objects, advantages and beneficial constructional features-and improved method of manufacture will appear to persons skilled in the art to which the invention appertains as the description proceeds, both by direct recitation thereof and by implication from the context;

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

I Figure 1 is a plan of the resilient steel strap with-enlarged end portions in one of which impressions have been made for constituting it a female embossing die;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of said strap, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view corresponding to'Fig. 2 showing the strap looped to its final or normal position;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a press showing a step in the formation of the male die directly in place on the end portion of the strap underlying the female die,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the looped strap complete with the male die permanently mounted in place;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a seal press about to receive the looped strap, and also showing a stand attachment for the press proximate thereto;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the seal press with the looped strap inserted in place, taken on line 7' 7 ofFig. 8;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan ofthe assembly of Fig- 7;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the assembly of- Fig. 7, but with the operating handle depressed;

Figures 10 and 11 are horizontal sectional views taken on lines 1010 and 1111 respectively of Fig. 9,.and looking in directions indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 12 is a vertical cross-section on line 1212 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction indicated'by the arrows.

With the exception of Fig. 4, which is somewhat .sche. matic in'nature, the drawings are substantially to scaleof a working model of the invention, and reference is made to the drawings to complete the disclosure.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the reference numeral '15 indicates a re silient metal strap. As shown in Fig. 1, this metalstr'ap' .having muchthe appearance of a flattened dumbbell 3 The metal of which strap 15 is made is preferably a strong alloy steel.

Preferably, the enlarged end portions or disks 16 and 1.7. are circular. End, portion 17 is. preferably slightly smaller in diameter than end portion16... End portion16 is. illustrated as. having depressions therein as onerneans of providing a female die 19 integrated with that enlarged end, portion, It will be understood that; the depressions rnay be made in any desired or known manner examples of which may be given as stamping, engraving, etching, and so forth. While I prefer co-form the depressions directly in. the metal of the end portion 16 of the strap 15 and thereby utilize the end portion also asfemale die 19 it is. considered within the scope of the invention tootherwise provide afemale die integral with said endportion. In any event, the female die 19 is integrated with and remainsperrnanently a part of; said enlarged portion 16 of. h str p Optionally and preferably, as shown inFigs. 2 and. 6, the'diskj16, is slightly cup-shaped. with itsupper face 16a being slightly convexyand with the die. face 19 being slightly concave. Furthermore, disk. 16 is preferably heat treatedto a hardness of Rockwell -52..

As it is customary to have corporation, notary and similar seals circular, the

enlarged end portions

16, 17 of the strap are shown of that shape and for brevity will be. referred to herein as circular but with the understanding that the invention is not restricted thereto and that other shapes may. just as wellbe used if desired. It may alsobe pointed out that end portion 17, which is the one opposite from the end portion 16 having female die 19, has: lugs or pins 20, 21 in pairs depending therefrom for locating and retaining purposes as will appear in greater detail hereinafter. The lugs or pins ofeach pair are situated; symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the strap. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to slightly exaggerated scale, disk 17 is provided with recesses 20ain the face thereof opposite pins 20, and with similar recesses 21a opposite pins 21. The pins 20iand-21 and corresponding recesses- 20:]. and'21a are formed by apunching'operation;

After integration of the female die with the one. enlarged end portion 16 and after provision of pins or-lugs. 20, 21 is made in the other enlarged portion 17, the yoke 18 is given a rounded bend-22 midway between

said'end portions

16, 17 so that theyoke, viewed edgewis'e or in longitudinal cross-secti0n, has a hair-pin or U-shape-with the legs spaced. from-each other. and diverging somewhat toward their ends; remote from the bend. It willbe remembered that the strap is made of resilient metal, and while thenormal shape is as just described, the. legs may be resiliently flexed to approach each other and. when released will return to the normal diver-gentrelation, as illustratedin Figures 3, 5', 6 and. 7. Inmaking the; rounded bend 22., the two disk-shaped. or enlarged. end portions 16', 17 are brought into opposition one to the other, and for convenience. of description, the one havingv the lugs or pins willv be considered as the. under disk and the one havingthe female die will be. considered:

the upper disc. Also, in making. said bend,- the female die 19. is located on the under face of, the-upper disc or end'portion16 and is thus between the twosaid diskszor endportions and, looks towards the upper face of the under, disk or end portion 17.

As, they result \of the forming oftherounded bend-22 in. yoke 18, said yoke 18 has a leg-18a connecting with disk 17 anda leg 18b connecting with disk 16. Optionally and preferably, leg 18a is straight, while leg 18b is cmved; in the manner shown in Fig. 3, as well as in other views, so that disk 16 normally diverges from disk 17; Thisslight divergence of disk 16 from disk 17in the nor= mal'position thereof permits thetwo disks to move into.

substantially parallelism when they are urged toward.

each'other, asis best shown in Fig; 4; Said legs 18g and 18b may be given any suitable shape to permit proper registration from the male and female dies in operation of the seal.

The next step in the fabrication process is to form a male die or counter-and simultaneously apply the complementary facial configurations established by the female die, and mount the male die permanently in place 'on its disk 17 while the legsof the U -shaped strap are resiliently sprung toward each; other from. their aforesaid normal position, and for an understanding of this feature, reference will be mademore especially to Figures 3 to 5 inclusrve.

In order to formthe male die", a blank 26 of appropriate material is placed'between:

disks

16 and 17, the blank 26 being heated if necessary, and the two

disks

16 and 17 are pressed toward each other to mold blank 26 to the appropriate shape, the blank 26 being embossed in a manner corresponding to the depressions of female die 19.

In the embodiment shown in. the drawings, said blank 26- is-made ofthermoplastic material, which may optionally be a vinyl plastic, such as one available on the market under the name Vinylite. However, it will be under stood that any suitable thermoplastic material may be used.

It. will also be apparent from the following description that other materials besides thermoplastic materials may be used tofo-rm-the male die.

Said blank 26: is; preferably in the form of: a disk and is preferably of. somewhat smaller diameter; than disks 16. and 17. Forexample, disk 16. may have a diameter of /8 inches, disk.17' may have a diameter of 1 inches andrblank26-may have-a diameter-of.1% inches.

Fig. 3' shows blank 26. inserted between disks 16.- and 17 prior to pressing; the

disks

16 and 17 toward: each other. Preferably, the assembly of blank 26. and: strap 15 is. placed in an: oven and; heated for a; suflicient period of. time and at an. appropriate temperature until the blank 26 becomes soft: and pliable. Forexample, when: Vinylite is used, it has been found that the rnaterial' reaches the desiredv softness and pliability when the as sembly is; heatedv at a temperature of approximately 30'() 350" F. for a periodof approximately 3 /2 minutes.

Fig. 4' shows, somewhat schematically, the press- 60 used inthe molding ofthe male die. saidpress'm comprisesa top platen 61' and' a bottom platen 62. Conventional' means (notshown) are provided for releasably moving-platen 61 toward platen 62 at the desired pressure; Thus, press 60 maybe a; hydraulic press.

bottom mold plate 63 is fi'xedtothe upper face of, platen 62. This platen 63 is annular and the central spacethereof contains the bottom cylindrical mold platen 64 Moldplate 63* is provided with a flat upstanding flange6'3aextending around the periphery of the mold plate-opening and extending above the bottom mold platen- 64; The upper surface 64aof platen 64' is concave to accommodate the convex face 16a of disk 16'. The height of'moldplate 64 is the same as the height'of the main-portion of platen 63', and the height of flange. 63a is:

substantially equal tothe thickness of disk 16;

Ir'r-ord'erto provide a mount for the mold top. platen 65-, a cylindrical filler block 66' is fixed to the lower. face of the top press platen 61.. A cylindricaLopen-ended shell 67 has a top peripheral outwardly extending, annular flange 6.7a which is fixed to the-lower face of fill'er block66; Thelower endof' shell 67 is provided with an inwardly extending annular peripheral fiange 67-12.

A cylindrical backing plate 68 is located in shell 6'7. against the lower face offiller block 66..

The mold topplaten 65' is cylindrical in shape and ex-. tends frictionallyl and slidably through: the central. opening offl'ange 67 5;. The. upper end. of. platen 65.. ispro:

portion of shell' 67 and which prevents separation of platen 65 and shell 67. The interior space of shell 67, between platen 65 and backing plate 68, is filled with a large number of small steel balls 8. As an example, said balls 8 may be approximately ,4 inch in diameter, and there may be approximately 4000 of said balls in the interior space of shell 67. v

The mold top plate 69 is of annular shape and fits slidably over shell 67. Said mold top plate 69 is provided adjacent its periphery with a plurality of recesses 70 extending upwardly from its lower face. Each recess 70 communicates at its upper end with a bore 70a of reduced diameter which extends to the upper face of plate 69. A plurality of posts 71 extend downwardly from platen 61 and extend respectively slidably through bores 70a into the respective recesses 70. Each post 71 has a bottom head 71a of enlarged diameter located within recess 70. A coil spring 72 extends around each post '71 and extends between platen 61 and the upper face of top mold plate 61. I

Said mold plate 69 has a bottom inwardly extending annular flange 6% extending around the periphery of the opening of plate 69 and located below flange 67b of shell 67. The diameter of the opening of flange 69a is slightly less than the diameter of the opening of platen 63.

The portion of mold platen 65 which protrudes below flange 67b is adapted to extend frictionally slidably into the opening of flange 69a. .Platen 65 is provided at its lower face with suitable recesses 73 for reception of

pins

20 and 21. Any suitable means (-not shown) is provided to maintain

pins

20 and 21 of the inserted stnap in alinement with recesses 73, by preventing platen 65 from turning in shell 67. Top mold plate 69 and bottom mold plate 63 are respectively provided with appropriate cut-outs 74 and '75 to receive yoke portion 18.

The operation of press 60 is as follows: Initially, with

press platens

61 and 62 in their open position (not shown), the mold platens 65 and 64 are spaced apart. Also, initially, the post heads 71a abut the upper ends of the respective recesses '70, and flange 69a of top mold plate 69 is located below and spaced from shell flange 67 b.

In this initial position of press 60, the heated assembly of strap 15 and blank 26 is placed between platen 64 and platen 65 with the concave face 16:: of disk 16 nesting upon the concave upper face 6400f bottom mold platen 64. Yoke portion 18, of course, extends beyond the periphery of platen 64 into the mold recess 75.

When the top press platen 61 is lowered, flange 69a of top mold plate 69 first moves into abutment with the upper flange 63a of bottom mold plate 63. At this point, the disks or

jaws

16 and 17 are still spread, recess 74 being sufiiciently large to accommodate the upper part of the spread yoke 18. Since the diameter of the central opening of flange 69a is slightly smaller thanthe diameter of platen 64, the effect of this step is to seal the.

outer peripheral edge portion of disk 16. During the continued downward movement of top platen 61, springs 72 are compressed, and shell 67 slides downwardly with respect to top mold plate 69, within the central recess thereof. The bottom face of top mold platen 65 makes contact with disk 17 and forces disk 17 downwardly, thereby compressing blank 26.

Pins

20 and 21 enter respective recesses 73. At the conclusion of the downward stroke, flange 67b abuts the upper face of flange 69a, and top mold platen 67 protrudes into the central recess of top mold flange 6%, thereby sealing the annular space 9 between the outer periphery of disk 17 and the inner peripheral face of flange 69a In this final position of the press, the space between

disks

16 and 17 is, of course, substantially equal to the desired final thickness of blank 26.

The flowable and compressed material of blank 26 is forced into the indentations of die 19, thereby securing the desired counter or male die 33. Said counter or male die 33 also has a peripheral annular flange 33a which extends into the space 9. Also, the plastic flows 6 into recess 20a and the like recesses. The remaining excess of the compressed blank 26 extends as a tail 33b between the yoke arms 18a and 18b and outwardly of the peripheries of disks .16 and 17.

to insure propermolding of the blank 26 and at the same time to permit the plastic to cool sufficiently to permanently maintain its impressed shape and configuration prior to opening of the press.

The balls 8 flow in such a way as to permit platen to tilt slightly and automatically to compensate for any inclination of disk 17 from true horizontal. At the same time, the mass of-balls in incompressible as a whole and furnishes firm backing to platen 65.

As an important feature of the invention, the thermoplastic material used for blank 26 is one having no tendency to adhere to the metal of disks 16 and .17 when the plastic has cooled. This makes it possible to mold a male die or counter of high fidelity from the female mold die 19. The male die 33 adheres to disk 17 by means of friction. This friction is the result of the frictional adherence of the plastic material within the recess 20a and like recesses of disk 17, as wellas around the periphery of disk 17. I have found that in normal use the counter 33 does not become separated from disk 17. One the other hand, it is possible to insert a knife or the like between tail 33b andyoke arm 18a so as to pry counter 33 apart from disk 17 and separate the two elements. I,

As one specific example, a seal may be made by the above-described procedure utilizingv a strap of & inch thickness, the diameter of end portion 17 being 1 /2 inches and the diameter of end portion 16 being 1% inches. The thermoplastic may be the Vinylite referred to above having a thickness of substantially 0.093 inch and introduced as a slug 1% inches in diameter. The heating time in the temperature range of 300 350 F. is three and one-half minutes, and the pressure, applied by a hydraulic press (not shown) to the plunger, being rated at five tons. A considerable part of that pressure is of course consumed in flexing the holder and strap. The pressure is applied for up to approximately half a, minute or until the plastic has cooled and solidified in place. The final thickness of the plastic obtained by the pressure applied by the plunger is approximately inch, and its final diameter, is approximately 1 /2 inches.

When thus completed, the assembly of strap with its integral dies is removed from the press and mold, and is ready for use. It will be recognized also, that the resili ency of the strap will cause the legs thereof to assume their pre-formed divergent relation when the strap is. withdrawn from the holder 23 in which it was held during integration of the counter on the strap. Since said counter or male die 33 has been formed in place in the exact position and under the exact conditions in which it is to be used as a seal, it requires no insertion of shims or other adjustment. Furthermore, due to the perfect fitting of the male and female dies, heavy reenforcement as required in the prior art is unnecessary and is eliminated, and yet a more economical seal is provided and a better impression is obtained when the seal is used than occurs with prior art seals. Since the strap is a single piece of steel, bent to U-shape, the legs thereof cannot swing laterally and there is consequently no possibility of any displacement occurring that would dislocate the original and proper juxtaposition of the female die in registering opposition to the male die or counter, and the assembly may thus be removed and replaced, handled and stored freely and without danger of injury or loss of effectiveness.

Turning attention now to Figures 7 to 13 inclusive, showing an improved seal press and the mode and man ner of assembly and utilization of the unitary strap and die arrangement dealt with at length hereinabove and The presspressure 'is such, and the pressure is maintained sufficiently long,

now, for brevity, referred to in its entirety as the impression element, the reference numeral 35 designates the seal press in general. Said seal press is made of suitable sheet material of rigid character, such as sheet steel, which is'bent into channel formation to provide a bottom wall or web 36 and side flanges or walls 37' that are spaced apart the width of the press and are integral with said web and project upwardly therefrom and extend the full length of said web, said side Walls being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the web. Said side walls provide forwardly extending goose-necks 33, which, with underlying portions of the side walls in the same planes therewith, provide deep gaps 39 from the front edges of the goose-necks well back toward the middle of the-press so that, inter alia, a document or other paper or article (not shown) which is to be impressed by the seal, may be inserted. Carried by said goose-necks, extending transversely from one to the other and near the front ends thereof, is a cross-pin 40, preferably riveted in place and having, as one function thereof, a restraining or bracing retention of the goose-necks to keep them from spread- Said cross-pin 40 also functions as a pivot for a handle or lever 41 mounted near one end on said pivot and extending in a generally rearward direction at its other, or what will be here termed, free end of the leverl Said lever is likewise of channel formation with the web 42 of the channel extending along the top of the lever and the flanges 43 of the channel parallel to each other and projecting downwardly from the web. The width of the channel constituting said lever 41 is such that it may be located at its pivoted end between the goose-necks 38 and in rotative engagement with the inside faces thereof. Said handle will therefore function to keep the goosenecks from deflecting inwardly toward each other. Axially parallel to cross-pin 40 and offset rearwardly downward therefrom is a pivotal mounting, here shown as an axle 44 for a roller 45 thereon and coaxial therewith. Said cross-pin 4i) or other pivotal mounting has its ends supported in the side flanges 43 of the channelshaped lever 41 so as to move with said lever. The roller 45 has a length corresponding to the distance between the lever side flanges 43 and consequently the roller will prevent said side flanges from deflecting inwardly, while proximity of said side flanges 43 with the inner faces. of the goose-necks 38 will prevent those flanges from deflecting outwardly. A bottom segment of the roller 45 projects below the lower edges of the lever flanges 43 so as to be operative upon the impression element.

The yoke 18 of the impression element has a width commensurate with the distance between the goose-necks 38 and thus may be inserted therebetween. The

enlarged portions

16, 17 however, have diameters greater than the said distance between the goose-necks and between side flanges 37 of which the goose-necks are a part. Consequently, when said enlarged end portions of the impression element are inserted in the gaps 39, they have too great width to enter between the flanges and the lower one, 17, will have to rest upon the upper edges of the flanges constituting edges of the gaps. Those edges accordingly constitute elongated parallel and spaced support aifording solid footing for said enlarged portion 17 and male die or coun-ter33 thereon. The upper enlarged end portion 16, although sloping when the handle or lever 41 is in upward position is parallel to the axis of roller 45., and so as the lever is pressed downwardly it rolls on the said portion 16 along the center line thereof and depresses the upper or female die without any tendency to tilt the said dietoward either side. An even pressure throughout the die surface will thus be obtained. Thecup shape of disk 16-makes certain that the success point forces on the center line thereof cause the outer peripheral edge portion of disk 16 to be pressed firmly and evenly against male die 33. r

While the rear end of the impression element is retained against lateral displacement by inclusion of the looped portion of yoke 18 thereof between the flange walls or goose-necks, it is also desirable to prevent the forward end of said element from being laterally displaced. Fulfillment of this desideratum is accomplishedby lugs 20 arranged as a pair' projecting from the under face'of the enlarged portion 17, said lugs being spaced an'appro priate distance apart symmetrically of the center line of the impression element whereby one will engage the inner face of one flange 37 and the other lug of the pair will engage the-inner face of the other flange 37.

It is also desirable to releasably interlock the impression element in place in the press. In order to do this, the two other lugs 21 are provided also projecting from the under side of the lower end portion 17 and spaced apart symmetrically of the center line of the impressionelement to coincide with the spacing of the press side walls or flanges 37. Two corresponding notches 46 are provided in the upper edge of the flanges at the gap portion of the press to simultaneously receive said lugs 21 which ride inwardly along said edges of the flanges as the impression element is slid home to its proper loaded position in the press. As the upper portion 16 of said element rides in engagement with the roller 45 during this loading operation, the element is partially closed and will cause said lugs to snap into said notches 46 upon attaining registration therewith, and said element is constructed to have suflicient normal divergence to exert a continued resilient retention of said lugs in said notches until the user intentionally lifts the lower leaf of the impression element for releasing purposes; By virtue of the construction described, the impression element will be both positively positioned and retained in the press as long as desired, but is readily removed and another substituted, thereby enabling the press to be selectively used for any one of a plurality of impression elements. Said elements occupy comparatively little space, and therefore a great many may be conveniently stored and selectively used with the single press whichobviously is much more bulky and to furnish a press for each impression element would therefore require a great deal of storage space. No tools are required for making the interchange of elements in the press, nor is there any likelihood of disturbing the registering relation of the male and female dies of any impression element by removal, handling, storing or reinserting it.

If, for any reason such as desire to carry the press in a persons. pocket, it becomes advantageous to provide means for holding the handle in its downward position. A releasable detent has accordingly been shown, and comprises an elongated leaf-spring 47 at one side of one goose-neck 38, said leaf-spring having one end portion thereof retained against said goose-neck by being held under the head of cross-pin 40. A pin or prong 48 is fixed to the other end portion of leaf-spring 47 and extends inwardly and slidably through a hole in the gooseneck wall. Normally, the inner end of pin 58 is flush with the inner face of the goose-neck wall, and spring 47 is spaced from the wall. The contiguous flange of the handle has a hole 49 which becomes alined with pin 48 when the handle is depressed to the fullest extent. Leafspring 47 may then be pressed inwardly so that pin 48 enters hole 49. Upon release of the handle, the resilient yoke 18 urges it upwardly, and pin 48 is locked releasably and frictionally against the wall of hole 49.

To release pin 48 from hole 49, it is merely necessary to depress the handle again to its fullest extent, to release the frictional engagement of pin 48 in hole 49. Leaf-spring 47 then automatically returns to its normal position and pin 48 clears hole 49.

It may also be found advantageous upon occasion to use the press 35 on a table or desk or other flat surface, and for such use the press should retainits equilibrium without fail and without special care on the part of the 9 user. While I have provided a flat bottom wall or web 36 for the press upon which the press may rest, that wall is comparatively narrow and the press will tip over unless used with care. To increase the stability of the press to an adequate degree, I provide a removable resilient basal collar or ring 50 split longitudinally at one side for its entire length. The ring has a longitudinal height equal to the distance from the bottom of the press to the edge of the flange that forms the bottom of gap 39. The ring has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of enlarged portion 17 of the impression element. Properly located vertical grooves 51 are provided opposite to each other in the outer surfaces of the side flanges 37 to receive the vertical edges of said basal ring created by splitting said ring. The relationship is such that when said ring is in place with the edges of its split in said grooves, the ring and the disk-shaped

enlarged portions

16, 17 will be coaxial, and then with the lower edge of the ring in a common plane with the bottom of the press, the upper edge of the ring will engage under the enlarged portion 17 next to the periphery thereof. The lateral footing thus obtained by presence of the ring will maintain the press in upright stability under all ordinary conditions of use. As the ring is removable, being held only by its resilient grip, it can be taken off or applied as needed or desire may dictate. Finally, it may be pointed out that the forward end edge of the bottom web 36 has a chordal relation to the ring 50 and the front edges of the side flanges 37 are in longitudinal contact with the wall of the ring along lines remote from the split. Consequently the ring has four lines of contact longitudinally of the ring at spaced intervals circumferentially thereby further assuring stability of relationship between'the ring and the press.

While I have disclosed blank 26 as being made of a thermoplastic material which is flowable under heat and pressure, and which will not adhere to the metal when it cools and solidifies, and which has other appropriate properties, it will be apparent that my invention is not' limited to this material. Any other appropriate material may be used which can be formed as a male counter Thus, other plastic moldable materials may rial such as a eutectic alloy or a cold molding or casting 7 plastic. The blank is still inserted between

disks

16 and 17, and die 19 is still used to form the necessary configuration of the male counter; in other words, the principles of my improved method remain the same. Also, the blank may be made of a'soft metal, such as lead, which is mounted upon disk 17 and marked by die 19 with the aid of a coining operation.

Various details of the press may be modified. For example, the mold platens may be cooled if desired.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention and have indicated various changes, additions and omissions which can be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions can be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An embossing seal. press comprising a body of channel formation having a bottom wall and upstanding said enlarged portions adapted to seat on said top edges next to the front end of said gap, said top edges having notches therein and said one enlarged portion of the strap having lugs at its under side spaced apart the same distance as spacing of said flanges, said lugs being adapted to register with and snap into said notches for retaining said strap releasably in place in said press.

2. An embossing seal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one enlarged portion has a second pair of lugs depending therefrom and spaced a less distance apart than said first mentioned lugs, said second pair of lugs being so spaced that they engage at the inside faces of said flanges when the first said lugs are engaged in said notches.

3. An embossing seal in accordance with claim 1, the upper face of said one enlarged portions of the strap having recesses corresponding in position to the position of said lugs, and having a thermoplastic male die mounted thereon, said male die having depending lugs which engage frictionally within said recesses, the other enlarged portion of the strap having a female die formed on the lower surface thereof.

4. An embossing seal press comprising a narrow body portion having a flat bottom wall and upstanding flanges at the longitudinal sides thereof, said flanges providing a pair of paralleltop edges, an embossing element having a portion thereof wider than the spacing of said flanges andadapted to seat on said top edge, a split ring having a longitudinal height substantially equal to the distance of said top edges from said bottom wall, said i 'split ring providing longitudinal edges at the split and 7 said ring being applicable around an end of said flanges and bottom wall with the said longitudinal edges of the split engaging at the outside of said flanges, said ring being resilient and gripping said flanges and adapted to be located in its gripping position with its bottom endin the plane of said bottom wall and its top end in the plane of said longitudinal edges of the flanges and in engagement with said portion of the embossing element.

5. An embossing seal press comprising a frame having side walls, opposed disks, means mounting said disks with in said frame with said disks extending between said side walls and with said disks being normally spaced apart and being resiliently movable toward each other, a han dle pivotally mounted at one end thereof between said side walls and carrying means intermediate its'ends for pressing said disks toward each other by downward movement of said handle, and a leaf spring mounted upon the outer face of one of said side walls and outwardly biased, said leaf spring having a pin fixed to its inner face, the side wall to which said leaf spring is mounted having a hole through which said pin extends slidably,

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