Abstract:
A case for multiple stamp pads is provided. One embodiment of the case includes a first housing portion for retaining a first stamp pad, a second housing portion for retaining a second stamp pad, a hinge connecting the first and second housing portions for movement between a closed configuration where the first and second stamp pads are facing each other and sealed within the first and second housing portions and an open configuration where the first and second stamp pads are exposed for use, and a divider separating the first and second stamp pads in the closed configuration and swingably covering one of the first and second stamp pads in the open configuration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally pertains to a container, and more particularly to a clamshell-type case including an internal hinged divider for separating multiple stamp pads. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Stamp pads, also commonly known as ink pads and inking pads, include an absorbent material, for example, sponge, fabric (e.g., felt, microfiber, etc.) or the like that is saturated with an ink for marking an object such as paper via a conveyance such as a rubber stamp. The ink may be of the indelible/permanent type, a water-based washable type, or other type of ink known in the art. The absorbent material is disposed in a formed or molded case that is generally made of metal or plastic. The case typically includes a base portion that retains the absorbent material and a lid or cover that is coupled with the base portion. The lid moves to expose the absorbent material for use and seal the absorbent material within the case during periods of non-use, thereby preventing the ink from evaporating out of the absorbent material and from accidentally transferring to an object. In some instances, the lid is attachable and removable from the base portion (e.g., via a friction fit), but more commonly the lid is hinge-connected with the base portion to prevent a user from misplacing or losing the lid. 
   Conventionally, only one ink pad is provided in a case. Typically, the ink pad has a single color ink, for example, black, red or blue for stamping a single-colored mark. In other instances, the ink pad is divided or separated into a plurality of small, adjacent, co-planar pads (e.g., a matrix), each of which has a different colored ink to use with small stamps for stamping a single-colored mark or for use with large stamps to stamp a multi-colored mark. Depending on the stamps and the ink colors desired or needed by an individual for a particular project (e.g., scrap-booking), the individual may need to have available several cases of stamp pads open simultaneously. One can appreciate that the use of such cases with hinge-connected lids is somewhat disadvantageous since the lid cannot be pivoted more than 180 degrees to be positioned underneath the base portion and therefore occupies space on the work surface that could be used otherwise. 
   In view of the foregoing, an improved case for multiple stamp pads would be welcomed. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A case for multiple stamp pads is provided. One embodiment of the case includes a first housing portion for retaining a first stamp pad, a second housing portion for retaining a second stamp pad, a hinge connecting the first and second housing portions for movement between a closed configuration where the first and second stamp pads are facing each other and sealed within the first and second housing portions and an open configuration where the first and second stamp pads are exposed for use, and a divider separating the first and second stamp pads in the closed configuration and swingably covering one of the first and second stamp pads in the open configuration. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stamp pad case in the open configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the closed configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is an elevation view illustrating a section of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the Figures, a case for multiple stamp pads is described. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the case  100  is configured to retain two stamp pads  102 ,  104  in separate housing portions  120 ,  140 , respectively. As known in the art, the stamp pads  102 ,  104  comprise an absorbent material and retain a viscous ink for transferring to an object via a rubber stamp or the like. The ink may be any type of ink known in the art (e.g., water-soluble or indelible), but preferably the ink is washable and nontoxic. As further shown, one or both of the stamp pads  102 ,  104  may be separated into two or more areas of different colors. As illustrated, stamp pad  104  includes six areas  104 A- 104 F, but fewer or additional areas may be provided. In an example, stamp pad  102  may have a single color ink such as black, whereas stamp pad  104  comprises a matrix of areas  104 A- 104 F, each of which has a different color ink (e.g., red, yellow, magenta, orange, blue and green respectively). As shown, the areas  104 A- 104 F are separated by partitions  106  such as plastic webbing to prevent mixing of the various colors of areas  104 A- 104 F. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing portions  120 ,  140  are generally rectangular in shape for retaining rectangular-shaped stamp pads  102 ,  104 , but the housing portions  120 ,  140  may be configured otherwise to retain stamp pads having other shapes, for example, circular stamp pads, etc. The housing portions  120 ,  140  may be formed or molded of a plastic or metal material, but other suitable materials may be employed. The first housing portion  120  includes a planar base  122  and a perimeter wall depending perpendicularly upwardly therefrom, the perimeter wall comprising opposing front and rear walls  124 ,  126  that extend respectively across the front and rear sides of the planar base  122  and opposing right and left walls  128 ,  130  respectively that extend between the front and rear walls  124 ,  126 . The second housing portion  140  includes a planar base  142  and a perimeter wall depending perpendicularly upwardly therefrom, the perimeter wall comprising opposing front and rear walls  144 ,  146  that extend respectively across the front and rear sides of the planar base  142  and opposing right and left walls  148 ,  150  respectively that extend between the front and rear walls  144 ,  146 . Although the housing portions  120 ,  140  are illustrated to be substantially similar, the case  100  should not be limited as such. In fact, the perimeter wall of each housing portion may have a different height to, for example, correspond with a height of a stamp pad that is retained therein or help ensure that both portions  120 ,  140  lay flat simultaneously on a work surface. 
   The rear walls  126 ,  146  of the housing portions  120 ,  140  are coupled together for relative movement between a closed configuration as shown in  FIG. 2  and an open configuration as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the rear walls  126 ,  146  are coupled together by hinges  160 . Although two hinges  160  are shown, fewer or additional hinges may be provided. Furthermore, although the hinges  160  are illustrated as ball and knuckle-type hinges, the hinges  160  may be other types of suitable hinges known in the art such as, for example, a living hinge, a piano hinge, etc. As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the front walls  124 ,  144  each include a tongue  132 ,  152 , respectively that frictionally mate to form a closure that maintains the portions  120 ,  140  in the closed configuration so that the case  100  can be stored, carried and the like. Further, tongues  132 ,  152  may help a user to pry open the case  100  by moving the tongues  132 ,  152  in opposite directions. Of course other closures known in the art may be suitable as well, for example, a latch, a catch, a hook and eye, etc. 
   Referring now to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , the illustrated case  100  includes a divider  180 . The divider  180  is planar and generally rectangular to substantially cover one of the stamp pads  102 ,  104  when the case  100  is in the open configuration. The divider  180  may be made of a transparent or translucent material such as plastic so that a stamp pad  102 ,  104  thereunder is visible. Furthermore, the divider  180  may be somewhat smaller than the planar bases  122 ,  142  so that the divider  180  is completely disposed in the housing portions  120 ,  140  when the case  100  is in the closed configuration. As can be appreciated from  FIG. 3 , when the case  100  is in the open configuration, the divider  180  is configured to swingably move through an angle of approximately 180 degrees so as to selectively cover one of the ink pads  102 ,  104 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the divider  180  may be configured to remain in a generally vertical orientation so that both of the stamp pads  102 ,  104  are exposed for use. Although the illustrated case  100  includes a single divider  180 , other embodiments may include a divider that is split along one or more lines running from the rear of the case to the front of the case to provide two or more dividers that are disposed in a side-by-side arrangement. In this way, access to an entire stamp pad or a portion thereof may be restricted as desired. For example, referring to  FIG. 1 , it can be appreciated that divider  180  may be split along two lines that are co-linear and co-extensive with the two partitions  106  running between rear wall  146  and front wall  144 . Such a configuration of the divider  180  would allow a user to selectively access one or more pairs of areas  104 A with  104 F,  104 B with  104 E, and  104 C with  104 D. Of course, the divider  180  could be split otherwise if the areas of stamp pad  104  were configured otherwise. 
   In some embodiments, the divider  180  may be movably coupled with a portion of one of the housing portions  120 ,  140 , for example a portion of one of the housing portions  120 ,  140  proximate the hinge  160 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the divider  180  is coupled with the rear wall  146  of housing portion  140 , but alternatively, the divider could be coupled with the rear wall  126  of housing portion  120 . In other embodiments, the divider  180  may be movably coupled with the hinge  160  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . For example, when the hinge  160  that is employed for coupling the housing portions  120 ,  140  is the illustrated ball and knuckle hinge, the knuckle may include a socket into which a ball on an edge of the divider  180  is disposed. Indeed, other methods for coupling the divider  180  to the housing portions  120 ,  140  or the hinge  160  may be employed as well. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the stamp pads  102 ,  104  of some embodiments may be recessed in the housing portions  120 ,  140  or otherwise configured to be lower than an upper surface of the perimeter wall. In such embodiments, the coupling of the divider  180  to the housing portions  120 ,  140  or the hinge  160  may include stops or the like that prevent the divider  180  from pivoting lower than the upper surfaces of the perimeter walls so that the divider  180  does not contact the stamp pads  102 ,  104  and become inked. In other embodiments, the perimeter wall of one or both of the housing portions  120 ,  140  may include a recessed ledge on which the divider  180  rests. As shown in  FIG. 5  (which illustrates a cross-sectional view of the stamp pad case  100  of  FIG. 4 ), the top surface of each of the side walls  148 ,  150  has a stepped profile due to an inset, recessed ledge L. In this embodiment, the side edges of the divider  180  are supported on the ledges L as shown to prevent the divider  180  from moving further downward and contacting the stamp pads thereunder. As further shown in  FIG. 5 , in embodiments including a matrix of stamp pads (e.g., pads  104 A- 104 F of  FIGS. 1 and 4 ), the partitions  106  may be configured to extend upwardly past the top surface of the stamp pads to cooperate with or replace the ledges L for supporting the divider  180 . As can be appreciated, each of the housing portions  120 ,  140  may include a perimeter wall configured with a ledge L so that the divider is sandwiched therebetween in the closed configuration to substantially immobilize the divider  180 . 
   Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein. Variations of those embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.