Claims
- 1. A hand stamp comprising
a) a case, b) a platen secured for selective movement within said case; c) a stamp die retained adjacent to said platen for movement therewith between a non-marking position where said stamp die is remote from a surface to be marked and a marking position where said stamp die is pressed into contact with a surface to be marked; and d) a retaining member mounted on said platen in any one of a plurality of positions such that said stamp die is secured in an assembled position adjacent said platen.
- 2. The hand stamp of claim 1, wherein said retaining member is directly mounted on said platen.
- 3. The hand stamp of claim 1, further comprising a handle.
- 4. The hand stamp of claim 1, wherein said retaining member is mounted in any one of an infinite number of positions between a lowermost position and an uppermost position, whereby said hand stamp can accommodate stamp dies of various thicknesses.
- 5. The hand stamp of claim 4, wherein said platen comprises a substantially planar bottom surface, a top surface and a perimeter; said retaining member comprising a frame defining an interior opening; said stamp die having a non-marking surface and a marking surface, said non-marking surface being retained adjacent to said bottom surface of said platen so that when said platen is in the marking position, said marking surface of said stamp die extends through said interior opening of said frame.
- 6. The hand stamp of claim 5, further comprising one or more clips constructed and arranged to secure said retaining member to said platen by friction, said one or more clips extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface of said platen.
- 7. The hand stamp of claim 6, wherein said one or more clips form part of and are integral with said retaining member.
- 8. The hand stamp of claim 7, wherein said frame comprises a ledge and a sidewall integral and substantially perpendicular to each other, said ledge extending into said interior opening, said ledge lying in a plane substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said platen.
- 9. The hand stamp of claim 8, wherein said marking surface of said stamp die has a perimeter; arranged flat against and adjacent to said ledge.
- 10. The hand stamp of claim 9, wherein each of said one or more clips comprises a pair of flexible and resilient fingers.
- 11. The hand stamp of claim 10, wherein said one or more clips extend upwardly from and are integral with said sidewall of said retaining member.
- 12. The hand stamp of claim 11, wherein said platen comprises a platenwall, defining the perimeter thereof, said platenwall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface of said platen, said stamp die being enclosed by said platenwall.
- 13. The hand stamp of claim 12, wherein said platenwall has one or more groves having a width adopted for receiving said fingers, said groves extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate, said fingers engaged in said groves whereby said fingers are flexed toward each to exert pressure in a direction opposite to the direction of their flexing, whereby said retaining member is mounted on said platen in friction-fit arrangement.
- 14. The hand stamp of claim 13, further comprising one or more openings through said top and bottom surfaces of said platen for supplying ink to said stamp die.
- 15. The hand stamp of claim 13, further comprising a shaft arranged within said case and being connected between said platen and said handle.
- 16. The hand stamp of claim 13, further comprising a spring for biasing said platen into said non-marking position, said platen being adopted for reciprocal movement within said case.
- 17. A part for a hand stamp, said part holding a stamp die in the assembled hand stamp, said part for a hand stamp comprising
a) a platen, and b) a retaining member mounted on said platen in any one of a plurality of positions such that a stamp die is secured within the assemblage adjacent said platen.
- 18. The part for a hand stamp of claim 17, wherein said retaining member is mounted on said platen in any one of an infinite number of positions between a lowermost position and an uppermost position, whereby, upon final assembly of the hand stamp, said retaining member tightly secures stamp dies of various thickness between said platen and said retaining member by assuming a final assembled position corresponding to thickness of a stamp die.
- 19. The part for a hand stamp of claim 17, said part for a hand stamp further comprising one or more clips for mounting said retaining member on said platen by friction-fit mechanism, said one or more clips extending vertically between said retaining member and said platen.
- 20. The part for a hand stamp of claim 19, wherein said one or more clips are part of said retaining member.
- 21. The part for a hand stamp of claim 20, wherein said one or more clips are integral with said retaining member.
- 22. The part for a hand stamp of claim 21, wherein said platen comprises a substantially planar bottom surface, a top surface and a perimeter; said retaining member comprising a frame defining an interior opening; whereby a stamp die may extend through said interior opening.
- 23. The part for a hand stamp of claim 22, wherein said frame comprises a ledge and a side wall integral and substantially perpendicular to each other, said ledge extending into and narrowing the interior opening, said ledge lying in a plane substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said platen.
- 24. The part for a hand stamp of claim 23, wherein said one or more clips extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface of said platen.
- 25. The part for a hand stamp of claim 24, wherein each of said one or more clips comprises a pair of flexible and resilient fingers in an arrangement having a broad part and a narrow part, said fingers capable of moving toward each other thereby the broad part becomes more narrow.
- 26. The part for a hand stamp of claim 25, wherein said arrangement has a form of a letter “V”.
- 27. The part for a hand stamp of claim 26, wherein said one or more clips extend upwardly from and are integral with said side wall of said retaining member, with said broad part is directed toward the platen.
- 28. The part for a hand stamp of claim 27, wherein said platen comprises a platenwall, said platenwall defining the perimeter of the plate and is integral therewith, said platenwall extending downwards in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the platen, whereby a stamp die is enclosed by said platenwall when placed into the part for a hand stamp.
- 29. The part for a hand stamp of claim 28, wherein said platenwall has one or more groves having a width adopted for receiving said fingers, said groves extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the platen, said fingers engaged in said groves thereby said fingers are flexed toward each thereby exerting pressure in a direction opposite to the direction of their flexing, whereby said retaining member is mounted on said platen in a friction-fit arrangement.
- 30. The part for a hand stamp of claim 29, wherein said retaining member comprises four clips.
- 31. The part for a hand stamp of claim 29, wherein said platen and said retaining member are substantially rectangular.
- 32. The part for a hand stamp of claim 29, wherein said retaining member is produced from a resilient and flexible material.
- 33. The part for a hand stamp of claim 32, wherein said material is plastic.
- 34. A method of assembling a part of a hand stamp comprising a retaining member, a platen and a stamp die, said method comprising the steps of:
a) placing the stamp die within the retaining member so that the perimeter of said stamp die is enclosed by the perimeter of the retaining member; b) arranging the platen over the retaining member so that the perimeter of the platen surrounds the perimeter of the retaining member; and c) applying a force to the platen to create a sufficient friction fit with respect to the retaining member, whereby said stamp die is secured in an assembled position between said platen and said retaining member.
- 35. The method of claim 34, wherein said retaining member comprises a frame defining an interior opening, said frame comprising a ledge and a side wall integral and substantially perpendicular to each other, said ledge extending into and narrowing the interior opening, said side wall extending vertically upwards; said platen comprises a substantially planar bottom surface and a top surface.
- 36. The method of claim 35, wherein said platen is placed over said retaining member with the ledge being substantially parallel to the bottom surface of said platen.
- 37. The method of claim 36, said retaining member further comprising one or more clips for securing said retaining member on said platen, said one or more clips extending vertically upwards in a direction substantially perpendicular to said ledge, said clips extending from and integral with the side wall of said retaining member; each of said one or more clips comprising a pair of flexible and resilient fingers in an arrangement having a broad part and a narrow part, said fingers capable of moving toward each other thereby the broad part becomes more narrow, said broad part is directed toward the platen; said platen comprising a platenwall, said platenwall defining the perimeter of the platen and is integral therewith, said platenwall extending downwards in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate, said stamp die enclosed by said plate wall after the hand stamp is assembled; said platenwall having one or more groves said groves having a width adopted for receiving said fingers, said groves extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the platen.
- 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of applying force comprises said fingers engaging into said groves thereby the fingers are flexing toward each, exerting pressure in a direction opposite to the direction of their flexing, whereby said retaining member is secured on said platen by friction-fit mechanism.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application cites the benefits of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/237,860 filed Oct. 4, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60237860 |
Oct 2000 |
US |