Rubber stamp package

A rubber stamp package includes a multiplicity of rubber stamps each having a body of circular cross section, a flexible stamp indicium on one surface thereof, and a handle on the other surface thereof, with a free end of the handle being of dome-shaped configuration. A synthetic resin container stores the stamps and has a base section with a multiplicity of spaced circular recesses seating the body of the stamps and a cooperatively dimensioned and configured cover section having a complementary pattern of generally spherical recesses for seating the free ends of the stamp handles. The container sections are releasably held in a closed relationship by interengaging elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rubber stamps, and, more particularly, to a package in which the rubber stamps are readily stored.

Rubber stamps are among the favorite toys for children who enjoy using the stamps to imprint letters, symbols, etc. on various materials, often to the consternation of their parents. Since these stamps will retain ink on their surface; the child may have residual ink in or on the indicium so that it is desirable to store the stamps in a segregated fashion and in a manner so that they will not come into contact with clothing, furniture, etc.

Since a child may have several sets of stamps with differing indicia, it is also desirable to have the rubber stamps stored in a fashion so that the child can readily extract the stamp collection with the desired indicia from a toy box, shelf or other storage location.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel package in which the individual ink stamps are stored and from which the child can readily extract the desired stamp(s).

It is also an object to provide such a package which can be easily and economically formed from transparent synthetic resin sheet material.

Another object is to provide such a package which can also function as another attractive point-of-purchase display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rubber stamp package comprises a multiplicity of rubber stamps each having a body of circular cross section, a flexible stamp indicium on one surface thereof, and a handle on the other surface thereof. The free end of the handle is of dome-shaped configuration.

A synthetic resin container storing the stamps has a base section with a base, side and end walls. The base wall has a multiplicity of spaced circular recesses seating the body of the stamps and a cooperatively dimensioned and configured cover section with top, side and end walls. The top wall has a complementary pattern of generally spherical recesses for seating the free ends of the stamp handles, and releasable means engages the container sections in a closed relationship. The container sections being cooperatively dimensioned and configured to seat the stamps.

In one embodiment, the base and cover sections are of generally rectangular configuration and are joined by an integral hinge along one of the side and end walls thereof. The base and cover sections have interengaging retention elements to hold the sections in a releasably closed position.

Preferably, the circular recesses are defined by arcuate surfaces on spacer elements formed on the base wall and on the side and end walls of the base section. One of the sections has a flange extending about the side and end walls thereof providing a channel-shaped recess and the other of the sections has a flange extending along the side and end walls, the flange of the other section seating in the channel of the one section. The releasable engaging means comprises a detent on one of the sections and a recess on the other of the sections in which the detent is engaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Turning first toFIGS. 1 and 2, a package embodying the present invention comprises an integrally formed transparent synthetic resin container generally designated by the numeral10and a multiplicity of rubber stamps generally designated by the numeral12.

As best seen inFIG. 3, the rubber stamps12each have a transparent disc shaped body14on the lower surface of which is an indicium16upon which ink will deposit when pressed against an ink pad. On the upper surface of the body14is a cylindrical formation18which is adhesively engaged in a cooperatively configured recess20formed in the lower end of the integrally formed handle22which has a dome shaped upper grip portion24, a cylindrical base portion26and an intermediate frustoconical portion28. On the upper surface of the disc is an indicium30which replicates the outline of the indicium16on the bottom surface.

As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the container10is integrally formed from transparent synthetic resin with a base section generally designated by the numeral32and a cover section generally designated by the numeral34. The base section32is formed with a base wall33, side walls42and end walls46. The base wall33has six cylindrical recesses36with two inner multilobed spacers38disposed between the three pairs of recesses36, a pair of side spacers40on each side wall42and a single end spacer44on each end wall46. Corner spacers47are formed at each of the corners. The spacers38,40,44and47have arcuate side faces which cooperate to define the cylindrical recesses36in which the disc shaped body14of the rubber stamps12are seated. Extending about the upper end of the side and end walls42,46is a horizontal flange48and a pair of rectangular recesses62are formed in the flanges48along each side.

The cover section34has a top wall52formed with six dome-shaped pockets54which seal the dome-shaped grip portions24. A flange56extends about the side and end walls42,46, and along the side walls42are a pair of detents50which snap into the recesses62to hold the cover section34in the closed position.

The end portions48a,56aof the flanges48,56are joined by an integral living hinge64. The end portions48b,56bof the flanges48,56have aligned apertures66therein to enable hanging the container10on a hook or the like (not shown).

Turning next toFIGS. 4 and 5, this package seats28stamps (not shown) in a container generally designated by the numeral70with a base section generally designated by the numeral72and a cover section generally designated by the numeral74. The base section72is formed with three rows of six inner spacers76, six side spacers78formed along each of the side walls80, and three end spacers82formed along each of the end walls84. Corner spacers86are formed at each of the corners. As in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-3, the arcuate side surfaces on the spacers76,78,82and86cooperate to define the cylindrical recesses88in which the rubber stamps are to be seated. Extending about the side and end walls80,84is a horizontal flange89. To stiffen the structure, the side and end walls80,84are formed with vertically extending scallops85.

The cover section74has four rows of even spherical pockets90formed in the top wall92and two longitudinally extending ribs94for stiffening the top wall90. Also formed in the top wall92are a pair of posts96each providing a recess98into which are snap fit projections100on the inner spacers76. Extending about the side and end walls102,104is an inverted L-shaped flange106which cooperates with the side and end walls102,104to form a channel into which the flange89of the base section72snap fits.

A handle strap108extends through apertures in the side wall80of the base section72.

Turning lastly toFIG. 6, therein illustrated is a container generally designated by the numeral110in which the base and cover sections112,114are formed similarly to provide ten seating recesses116and pockets118. This structure is also self-hinging and has multiple detents124and recesses126in the flanges120,122which provide a snap fit action to hold the sections in closed position.

The package of the present invention allows the rubber stamps to be stored separately in a transparent package which allows the child to select the rubber stamp with the desired indicium. The package is also desirable for point-of-purchase display since the indicia can be readily seen.

Since children frequently have several different sets of rubber stamps which reflect letters, different designs, etc., the child can quickly select from a group of packages that which has the indicia which he or she desires to employ. When the package is open, the child can readily extract and return individual stamps to the recesses which are assigned to them. Since the stamps are being stored separately and can be readily removed and replaced, there is less opportunity for the rubber stamps to inadvertently come into contact with furniture, rugs, etc., so as to require cleaning of those surfaces.

The container is readily fabricated from transparent synthetic resin sheet material by conventional thermoforming techniques. The synthetic resin employed desirably has self-hinging characteristics so that the cover and base are formed and retained as a unitary structure.

Among the resins which may be employed for the container are polyvinyl chloride, polyolefins and polystyrenes. Polyvinylchloride is preferred because it combines low cost with acceptable clarity and self-hinging characteristics. The indicia are conveniently formed from an ethylene/vinyl acetate polymeric closed cell foam.

As can be seen, the two sections of the containers are readily interengaged or for storing by the snap fitting posts, detents and flanges.

Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing detailed specification and drawings that the stamp package of the present invention provides a novel transparent container in which the individual stamps are seated. The container is easily and economically fabricated.