Abstract:
An embossing seal includes a support frame having an opening at a first end thereof and a die assembly disposed in the opening of the support frame. The embossing seal includes a handle pivotally connected to the frame for moving between an extended position and a compressed position for closing the die assembly, a first link having a trailing end pivotally connected to the frame and a leading end coupled with the die assembly, and a second link having a first end pivotally connected with the handle and a second end pivotally connected with the first link. In operation, when the handle is moved from the extended position to the compressed position, the first and second links close the die. The arrangement of the first and second links provides increased leverage on the die assembly during the later stages of the compression stroke of the handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The present application is related to commonly assigned United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0236879, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to embossing seals and more particularly relates to embossing seals having structure that provides greater leverage during an embossing operation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For many years, seals have been placed on documents to verify their authenticity. One of the earliest seals was created by placing wax on a document and then pressing the face of a ring into the wax. When the document was later presented to a third party, the authenticity of the document was verified by analyzing the image or symbol formed in the wax. Today, seals are created using a press-like device that stamps an image onto a document. Such seals are generally found on government documents such as birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses, as well as other documents such as architectural drawings and notarized documents. 
         [0004]    Most conventional embossing seals have a die and an opposing counter that move toward one another for forming an image on an article. On the die, the image is depressed from a generally planar surface. The counter also has an image, which mirrors the image that is on the stamping die. The die and the counter can be made using a variety of methods that are well known to those skilled in the art. Typically the die and counter are arranged so that the image created on the document can be read from left to right. In the alternative, the image can be produced so that it can be read from left to right from the debossed side of the document. 
         [0005]    In order to place a seal on a document, the item is placed between the die and the counter. The die and counter are then moved toward one another until the opposing elements are separated by only the thickness of the document. Further movement of the die and the counter toward one another results in the raised image on the counter forcing a portion of the article into the depressed image on the die. At maximum pressure, the raised image on the counter and the depressed image on the die are fully engaged with the article for selectively stretching and depressing the image onto the article. If the pressure applied is sufficient to cause the material of the article to stretch or yield, a permanent, precisely formed, raised image will result on one side of the article. The opposite side of the article will have a debossed mirror image of the raised image. 
         [0006]    An embossed or debossed image can be formed on almost any type of flexible, deformable material. At one end of the spectrum, the deformable material may be made of metal such as a malleable metal sheet or a metal block. At the other end of the spectrum, the deformable material may be gossamer-like paper. As noted above, the most common articles to be embossed include commercial paper stock used for legal documents, architectural or engineering drawings, government documents, letterhead, envelopes and the like. 
         [0007]    There are generally two types of embossing seals: desk seals and pocket seals. Desk seals are typically large, ornate devices that are designed to both impress the observer and to effectively impress a seal onto a document. Size and portability are not major concerns with desk seals. As a result, mechanical features such as levers can be added to a desk seal to make the stamping procedure easier for an operator, without concern for the overall size or weight of the device. 
         [0008]    For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0236879 discloses a spring-assisted embossing seal. In one embodiment, the embossing seal includes a frame, a die exposed at an underside of the frame, and a handle connected to the frame, the handle being movable between an extended position and a depressed position. The embossing seal includes an impact element movable from a first position in contact with the die to a second position spaced from the die, and a spring coupled with the impact element for normally urging the impact element into the first position, the spring being deflectable for storing energy. The embossing seal also has a lever linking the handle to the impact element. In operation, movement of the handle from the extended position toward the depressed position causes the lever to move the impact element from the first position to the second position for deflecting and storing energy in the spring. Further movement of the handle toward the depressed position causes the lever to release the impact element so that the energy stored in the deflected spring is transferred to the impact element for moving the impact element back to the first position so that the impact element strikes the die with a striking force. 
         [0009]    Many embossing seals include linkages for obtaining leverage, including U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,106. Other embossing seals include camming surfaces for gaining leverage including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,938,542, 5,819,647, 5,787,802, 3,554,122, 1,646,612, and 1,434,598. 
         [0010]    In spite of the above advances, there remains a need for an embossing seal that is easy to operate and that reduces the level of manual force required to produce a suitable raised image. There is also a need for an embossing seal that is both economical and reliable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is generally directed to a seal press including a frame or body having a lower portion with a die holder assembly and an upper portion having a handle pivotally attached thereto. The seal press includes a first, pivoted link having a leading end that overlies a die and a trailing end that is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the body via a fixed point pivot. The leading end of the first link is coupled with the handle via a double-ended link having an upper end pivotally connected with an underside of the handle and a lower end pivotally connected with the leading end of the first link. The seal press also includes a roller that projects from an underside of the first link, at the leading end of the first link, for engaging a button on a rear side of the die. The roller insures that the leading end of the first link has a smooth ride over the button on the die during an embossing procedure. 
         [0012]    The handle is moveable from an idle or extended position, to a partially compressed position and onto a fully-compressed position. In the idle position, the handle is extended and the die is spaced from a counter of the die holder assembly. An item, such as a document, may be placed between the die and the counter for embossing. In a partially compressed position, the free end of the handle is forced downwardly toward the lower portion of the frame or body. Downward pressure on the free end of the handle pivots the upper end of the double-ended link relative to the lower end of the double-ended link, which in turn pivots the leading end of the first link toward the die holder assembly so as to compress the die holder assembly. The cooperation of the first link and the second, double-ended link provide leverage over the die holder assembly when urging the die holder assembly into the embossing position. 
         [0013]    When nearing the fully compressed position, further downward force on the free end of the handle compresses the die holder assembly so as to force the die and the counter together for embossing an object. In the fully compressed position, the double-ended link extends in a substantially vertical direction between the fixed pivot point for the handle and the roller on the pivoted link. This linkage configuration requires minimal downward force on the handle to generate the necessary embossing force upon the die holder assembly. Thus, the seal press design of the present invention requires reduced operator effort, compared to a fixed leverage design, to generate necessary embossing forces. 
         [0014]    In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, an embossing seal includes a support frame, a die assembly connected to the frame, and a handle pivotally connected to the frame for moving between an extended position and a compressed position. The embossing seal may also include a first link having a trailing end pivotally connected to the frame and a leading end coupled with the die assembly, and a second link having a first end pivotally connected with the handle and a second end pivotally connected with the first link. The handle is preferably movable from the extended position to the compressed position for closing the die assembly. 
         [0015]    The embossing seal may also include a die assembly engaging element attached to the first link for coupling the first link with the die assembly. The die assembly engaging element may be a roller attached to the leading end of the die assembly for gliding over the backside of the die during an embossing operation. 
         [0016]    In one or more preferred embodiments, the frame of the embossing seal has a first end, a second end and an opening provided at the first end, whereby the die assembly is disposed in the opening of the frame and the handle is pivotally connected to the first end of the frame. The frame preferably has a first side wall and a second side wall and the first and second links are disposed between the first and second side walls. 
         [0017]    The first and second side walls may have a first set of aligned openings extending therethrough and the embossing seal may further comprise a first post connected with the first set of aligned openings, the first post pivotally connecting the trailing end of the first link with the frame. The first and second side walls may also have a second set of aligned openings extending therethrough. A second post may be connected with the second set of aligned openings and the second post may pivotally connect the handle with the frame. 
         [0018]    In certain preferred embodiments, the die assembly may include a first arm having a first end connectable with the frame and a second end holding a die, and a second arm having a first end connectable with the frame and a second end holding a counter, whereby the first ends of the first and second arms are attached to one another. The die assembly may also include at least one projection and the frame may include at least one depression for connecting the die assembly to the frame. In other preferred embodiments, the die assembly may include at least one depression and the frame may include at least one projection for connecting the die assembly to the frame. 
         [0019]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an embossing seal includes a frame having a first end, a second end and an opening at the first end, a die assembly disposed in the opening of the frame, and a handle pivotally connected to the frame for moving between an extended position and a compressed position for closing the die assembly. The embossing seal may also include a first link having a trailing end pivotally connected with the frame and a leading end coupled with the die assembly, a roller connected to the leading end of the first link for coupling the first link and the die assembly, and a second link having an upper end pivotally connected with the handle and a lower end pivotally connected with the first link. The handle is desirably movable from an extended position to a compressed position so that the first and second links provide a compression force through the roller and onto the die assembly. In one preferred embodiment, the lower end of the second link is pivotally connected to the leading end of the first link. 
         [0020]    The frame may have a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first and second links may be disposed between the first and second side walls. A first post may extend between the first and second side walls of the frame for pivotally connecting the trailing end of the first link with the frame. A second post may extend between the first and second side walls for pivotally connecting the handle with the frame. 
         [0021]    In certain preferred embodiments, the die assembly includes a first arm having a first end connectable with the frame and a second end engaging a die, and a second arm having a first end connectable with the frame and a second end engaging a counter for the die, whereby the first ends of the first and second arms are attached to one another and the die and the counter are in substantial alignment with one another. 
         [0022]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an embossing seal includes a support frame, a die assembly connected to the support frame, and a handle pivotally connected to the frame for moving between an extended position and a compressed position for closing the die assembly. The embossing seal also preferably includes a link having a trailing end pivotally connected with the frame and a leading end coupled with the die assembly, whereby when the handle is moved from the extended position to the compressed position, the link transfers compression forces to the die assembly for closing the die assembly. 
         [0023]    The embossing seal may also include a second link having an upper end pivotally connected with the handle and a lower end pivotally connected with the first link, whereby during an embossing operation the first and second links are coupled together for transferring compression forces to the die assembly when the handle is moved from the extended position to the compressed position. A roller may be attached to the leading end of the first link for coupling the first link with the die assembly 
         [0024]    The present invention may be used in pocket seals and desk seals. For simplicity, the discussion herein generally refers to the article being embossed as paper. It is understood, however, that the scope of the invention is broadly applicable to any resilient, flexible materials in sheet form. The present invention may also be used to place seals on larger items such as blocks of metal and wood. For these larger items, a base portion of the frame may be rotated to enable the die to be abutted against a surface of the larger object. 
         [0025]    A mechanical advantage may be obtained in the present invention through the use of one or more linkages. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, manual pressure is exerted on the handle of the embossing seal to urge the die and counter elements toward each other. Once the article (e.g. document) is securely pressed between the die and the counter, additional force applied to the handle of the embossing seal results in an increase in leverage through the links to begin the embossing process. 
         [0026]    These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a frame for an embossing seal, in accordance with certain preferred embodiments to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a die holder assembly including a die and a counter, in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2B  shows another view of the die holder assembly shown in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a handle and a link for an embossing seal, in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an embossing seal, in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the embossing seal of  FIG. 4  taken along line  FIG. 5-FIG .  5  thereof. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  shows the embossing seal of  FIGS. 4 and 5  with the handle in the partially compressed position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  shows the embossing seal of  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  with the handle in the fully compressed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an embossing seal includes a frame  22  having leading end  24  and a trailing end  26 . In preferred embodiments, the frame  22  is an U-shaped member including a first side wall  28 A and a second side wall  28 B. The frame includes an opening  30  at the leading end  24  thereof. The side walls  28 A,  28 B of the frame include aligned openings that enable posts to be positioned therein. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first set of aligned openings  32  are adapted to receive a first post  34  and a second set of aligned openings  36  are adapted to receive a second post  38 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a die holder assembly  40  including a first arm  42  having a first end  44  and a second end  46 . The second end  46  of the arm  42  is preferably coupled with a die holder  48  that is adapted to hold a die  50 . The die holder assembly  40  also preferably includes a second arm  52  having a first end  54  and a second end  56  that is adapted to hold a counter  58 . When the die  50  and the counter  58  are assembled with the die holder assembly  40 , the front face of the die  50  opposes the front face of the counter  58 . The respective front faces are preferably aligned with one another and are pressed together to form a seal on an object such as a document. The first and second arms  42 ,  52  are desirably spring arms that normally hold the die and counter spaced from one another. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , the first end  44  of the first arm  42  includes a pair of projections  60 A,  60 B that are adapted to engage similarly shaped depressions provided on the frame  22  ( FIG. 1 ). Referring to  FIG. 2B , the first end  54  of the second arm  52  includes depressions  62 A,  62 B that are adapted to be received in projections provided on the frame  22  ( FIG. 1 ). The second end  46  of first arm  42  had a button  64  secured thereto. The second end  56  of second arm  52  includes a pair of elongated depressions  66 A,  66 B that are adapted to be received by elongated notches  31 A,  31 B at the opening  30  of the frame  22 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the embossing seal includes a handle  70  having a leading end  72  and a trailing end  74 . The leading end  72  of the handle includes first openings  76  and second aligned openings  78 . The embossing seal also includes a first link  80  having a trailing end  82  and a leading end  84 . The trailing end  82  includes an opening  86  adapted to receive the post  34  shown in  FIG. 1  for pivotally connecting the trailing end  82  of the first link  80  to the frame  22 . The first link also includes second aligned openings  88  and third openings  90 . The embossing seal also includes a second link  92  that extends between the handle  70  and the first link  80 . First link  80  also includes a roller  94  connected with the leading end  84  of the first link  80 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows the components of  FIGS. 1-3  assembled together the form an embossing seal. The embossing seal  20  includes frame  22  having die holder assembly  40  inserted into the opening  30  at the leading end of the frame. The embossing seal  20  also includes a handle  70  pivotally connected with the frame  22 . The first and second links described above extend between the side walls  28 A,  28 B of the frame  22 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows a cross sectional view of the embossing seal shown in  FIG. 4 , taken along lines  FIG. 5-FIG .  5  thereof. The embossing seal  20  includes frame  22  having a leading end  24  and a trailing end  26 . The frame includes an opening  30  provided at the leading end  24  thereof. A die holder assembly  40  is inserted into the opening  30  for being connected to the frame  22 . The projections  60  at the first end  44  of the first arm  42  are insertable into opposing depressions provided in the frame  22 . The depressions  62  provided at the first end  54  of the second arm  52  are coupled with projections on the frame  22 . Once the die holder assembly  40  has been connected with the frame  22 , the die  50  and counter  58  are positioned adjacent the opening  30  of the frame  22 . 
         [0041]    The embossing seal  20  also includes the first link  80  having trailing end  82  that is pivotally connected to frame  22  via post  34 . The leading end  84  of the first link  80  has a roller  94  connected therewith. The roller  94  preferably projects from the underside of the first link  80  and desirably engages the button  64  provided on a backside of die  50 . 
         [0042]    The embossing seal  20  also preferably includes second link  92  having an upper end  96  pivotally connected to handle  70  and a lower end  98  pivotally connected to the leading end  84  of first link  80 . Thus, the second link  92  is a double-ended link that is pivotally connected to different elements at the ends thereof. 
         [0043]    The leading end of the handle  70  is pivotally connected to the frame via post  38  shown in  FIG. 1  of the present application. The handle  70  has two pivoting features, the pivot point between the leading end of the handle and the frame  22  and the pivot point between the upper end of the second link  92  and the handle. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows the embossing seal in an idle position. The arms  42 ,  52  of the die holder assembly  40  are preferably spring arms that maintain the opposing faces of the die  50  and counter  58  spaced from one another. In the idle position shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle  70  is in an extended position and the die  50  and counter  58  are spaced from one another. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , as the handle is partially depressed in the direction D 1 , the die holder assembly  40  is partially compressed so that the die  50  moves toward the counter  58 . As the handle  70  pivots about pivot post  38 , the upper end  96  of the second link  92  begins to move toward the leading end  24  of the frame  22  relative to the lower end  98  of the second link  92 . As a result, when the second link  92  is in the position shown in  FIG. 6 , it has a more vertical orientation than when the second link is in the position shown in  FIG. 5 . As the second link  92  assumes the more vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 6 , the second link  92  applies a downward force on the leading end  84  of first link  80 . As a result, the first link pivots downwardly about pivot post  34  so as to apply a downward force onto button  64  through roller  94 . The pivoting direction of the second link  92  is shown by the arrow provided on the second link ( FIG. 6 ). The pivoting direction of the first link  80  is shown by the arrow drawn on the first link ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows the embossing seal  20  with the handle  70  in the fully compressed position. When the handle  70  is fully compressed, the second link  92  pivots into an ever more vertical orientation than when in the orientation shown in  FIG. 6 . As the second link  92  pivots to the orientation shown in  FIG. 7 , the leading end  84  of the first link  80  is pivoted further in a downward direction about pivot post  34 . In  FIG. 7 , the first link  80  has further rotated about pivot post  34  to assume a more horizontal configuration than the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 . The roller  94  transfers the compressive force from the first and second links  80 ,  92  onto the button  64  on the top side of the die holder assembly  40 . The roller  94  is able to roll over the upper surface of the button  64  for smoothly gliding over the top of the die holder assembly when transferring compressive forces from the first and second links  80 ,  92  to the die  50 . 
         [0047]    Although the present invention is not limited by any particular theory of operation, it is believed that providing a first link  80  having a trailing end  82  pivotally connected to frame  22  and a leading end  84  aligned over a die holder assembly  40 , and a double ended second link  94  that is having an upper end pivotally connected to the handle  70  and a lower end pivotally connected to the leading end  84  of the first link  80 , a linkage generating variable leverage may be provided for applying variable leverage to the die  50  and counter  58  of a die holder assembly. As a result, in an early stage of an embossing step, the handle moves a great distance while applying minimal compressive force on the die holder assembly. During later stages of the embossing process, however, the first and second links  80 ,  92  generate increased leverage and compressive force to be applied to the die holder assembly. Thus, the unique linkage shown in the present invention enables an increase in leverage to be generated for forming additional compressive forces during later stages of the compression of the handle  70 . 
         [0048]    As these and other variations and combinations of the features set forth above can be utilized, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment should be taken by way of illustration rather than by limitation of the invention.