HOLDER FOR SELF-INKING STAMPS

Abstract: A self-inking stamp holder, said stamps comprising a box-like frame or case with openings on at least two opposite sides and a slide containing an overturnable stamping member and an inking pad, elastically sliding within said frame or case between the openings. The holder is formed by an upright (1) and a plurality of main wings (3) extending obliquely in a parallel relationship from at least one face thereof each wing being capable of holding a stamp. Retaining means (4) are associated to each of the main wings (3) for abutting on said frame or case, when held from a respective main wing, from the opposite side of the main wing, to firmly secure the stamp in position thereon.

Description: TITLE HOLDER FOR SELF-INKING STAMPS DESCRIPTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-inkmg stamp holder . Background art As is known, self-mkmg stamps are formed by a box shaped frame or case with two diametrically opposed openings and a slider engaging with one of said openings and elastically movable to and from the opposite opening. The slider contains an mkinc pad and an overturnable stamping element and is connected to the frame through a kinematic motion which, as a result of the movement of the slider, causes the stamping element to overturn from a rest position, in which the stamping element is contact with the inking pad, and a stamping position, rotated 180° with respect to the rest position, in which as a result of the slider movement the stamping element comes forward from the frame opening. The movement of the slider occurs as a consequence of a pressure exerted thereon against elastic means keeping the slider m the rest position. Self-mkmg stamps have a widespread use m view of the fact that, contrary to conventional hand stamps, they do not need for a separate tank containing the inking pad. This makes the stamping operation easier and allows the stamp to be transported m a bag or eve- m a pocket, without any risk of soiling the nearby oojects or the garment, and without the need of having the inking pad tank available for the use of the stamps. However, while as regards the conventional hand stamps there have been made available a lot of collecting devices to which the stamps are hung to be kept in a tidy way and to be easily retrieved, a similar device does not exist for the self-mkmg stamps, which, therefore, are usually kept on the working tables and desks without any prefixed order, thus making very difficult to find the stamp which is being looked for. The object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding self-mkmg stamps, by means of which they can be kept in an orderly way and little room, thus overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks . In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-mkmg stamp holder of the above mentioned type, which can support a relatively large number of stamps, while being of a minimum size, and allow for each stamp to be quickly identified. Summary of the invention These objects are reached with the self-mkmg stamp holder according to the present invention comprising an upright and a plurality of parallel mam wmgs extending obliquely from at least a face thereof, each mam wmg being fit for holding a stamp. Retaining means are associated to each mam wmg, said means abutting on the outer side of the case or frame of the stamp from the opposite side of the corresponding mam wmg to firmly secure the stamp m position thereon. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the upright extends from a support base to which it is pivotally connected and by means of which the holder can be set on a flat horizontal surface. In another embodiment of the invention, the upright comprises hook means for hanging the holder to a vertical surface. Preferably, the retaining means are formed by auxiliary wmgs extending from the upright, each auxiliary wmgs being arranged above a corresponding mam wmg, m either a parallel or divergent relationship with respect to the mam wmg. Further characteristics and/or advantages of the self-mkmg stamp holder according to the present invention will appear clearly from tne following description of embodiments thereof, given as non-limitmg examples with reference to the attached drawings. Brief description of the drawings In the drawings : Figure 1 is an elevational side view of the self- mkmg stamp holder according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevational front view of the self- mkmg stamp holder m the direction of arrow F of figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the holder according to the previous figures; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the holder taken along line III-III of figure 3; Figure 5 is a variation of the holder of the invention is an elevational front view suited for being attached to a wall; Figure 6 is a plan view of a further variation of the holder of the invention; Figure 7 is a front view of a differently shaped wmg for the holder of the invention; Figure 8 is a front view of an adjustable width wmg; Figure 9 is a partial side view of the holder equipped with the adjustable width wmg of figure 8. With reference to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, t^e holder for self-mkmg stamps according to tne present invention comprises a upright 1 of a substantially parallelepiped, hollow snape, pivotally connected to a base 2 that allows the holder to be set on a plane. Mam w gs 3 extends inclined upwardly from each of the opposite faces of upright 1 of larger width, m a parallel and spaced relationship . Respective auxiliary wmgs 4 extend immediately above mam wmg 3 and parallel thereto. Each of mam wmgs 3 constitutes an hanging means to whicn a self-mkmg stamp is hung tnrough its oox-like frame or case, while auxiliary wmg - abuts on tne outer side of the box-like frame or case to counterbalance the weight of the stamp on mam wmg 3 which would result in downward rotation of the stamp and thus in falling thereof . As shown Figures 3 and 4, advantageously upright 1 is a hollow body with one or more chambers, generally indicated at 5, for housing pens, pencils, and the like. If the depth of a chamber 5 is greater than the average length of a pencil, a movable base 5a supported by spacers 5b may be provided at the bottom of chambers 5. The pivotal connection between upright 1 and base 2 is obtained by means of a pair of axially coupled sleeves 6 and 7 extending from base 2 and the bottom side of upright 1 respectively. Sleeve 6 is formed by three elastically diverging arms that, once engaged within sleeve 7, radially urge against inner wall of sleeve 7 and abut through rounded end thereof against an annular projection thus preventing any unwanted disengagement. In a variation of the present invention shown in Figure 5, the stamp holder comprises a plate 10 from which main and auxiliary wings, parallel and spaced apart, extend as in the previous example. An hanging member 11 extends form the upper side of plate 10, for example of semi-annular shape, for being engaged with a hook not shown fixed to a wall. In this case the stamp holder can be hung to a vertical surface. In another variation of the present invention shown in Figure 6, the stamp holder comprises an upright 20 of quadrilateral section, wherein wings 3 and 4 extend from all the four side faces thereof. In particular, shorter first and second wings 3a and 4a extend from the pair of opposed faces of smaller width. Thanks to this configuration it is possible to use the stamp holder to hold stamps of different sizes. Clearly, first and second wings of different sizes can also be provided on the same face, as shown for example in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The stamp holder according to the invention can be made of metal or plastics according to design and production choices as obvious for a person skilled in the art . Wings 3 and 4 can be parallel to each other, as provided for in the embodiments shown in the drawings, or even slightly diverging. This solution can be useful to allow for stamps of different manufacturers with different frame or case thickness to be engaged with wing 3. Upright 1 can be made of only one member or be formed by modular members for example snap-fixed onto one another to increase the height and consequently the capacity of the stamp holder. In order to allow stamps of different width to be held oy the same wmg, the wmg can be shaped as shown in Figure 7, i.e. formed by two parts 12 and 13 of different width . In another variation of the invention shown m figures 8 and 9 the wmgs have a variable widtn according to the needs. To this end transverse grooves 31 shaped as a dovetail are formed on upright 1. Dovetail-shaped roots 32 of two wmg members 30a and 30b engage m a slightly forced way with grooves 31, so that the wmg members can be slid toward one another, or vice versa, to discrease or increase their supporting width. Obviously, any equivalent sliding connection means can be used as an alternative to achieve the same purpose. In a further variation of the invention, wmgs 3 and 4 can be arranged at a distance such as to provide a housing for the stamp therebetween. In this case, the support for the stamp by means of the wmg is not achieved by holding the frame or case to wmg 3, but by housing the frame or case on wmg 3. In this case connection side walls could be provided between wmgs 3 and 4 to close them laterally thus forming something similar to a drawer. In order to increase the friction between wmgs 3 and 4 from one side and frame or case of the stamp from the other side and to further reduce the risk of accidental fall of the stamp from the holder, the wmg surface can be at least partially coateα with an high friction coefficient material. Further variations and/or modifications can be brought to the self-mkmg stamp holder according to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth m the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A holder for self-innng stamps, said stamps comprising a box-like frame or case with openings on at least two opposite sides and a slider containing an overturnable stamping member and an inking pad, elastically sliding withm said frame or case between saiα openings, characterized m that it comprises an upright (1) and a plurality of mam wmgs (3) extending obliquely m a parallel relationship from at least one face thereof, each wmg being capable of holding a stamp, retaining means (4) being associated to each of the mam w gs (3) for abutting on saiα frame or case, when helα from a respective mam wmg, from the opposite side of said main wmg, to firmly secure the stamp m position thereon. 2. The holder according to claim 1, further comprising a base (2) pivotally connected to said upright for supporting said upright (1) on a flat surface. 3. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said upright further comprises hook means for hanging said upright to a wall. 4. The holder according to one of the previous claims, wherein said plurality of mam wmgs (3) extends from at least two opposite faces of said upright. 5. The holder according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said retaining means associated to each of said mam w gs (3) comprise an auxiliary wmg (4) extending from said upright immediately above said ma wing. 6. The holder according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary wmg (4) is parallel to the respective mam wmg (3) . 7. The holder according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary wmg (4) is diverging with respect to said mam w g (3) . 8. The holder according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said mam wmg (3) is fit for engaging with one of said opening of said box or case of tne stamp, which thus hangs therefrom, said auxiliary wmg (4) abutting on the outer side of said frame or case to balance the weight of the stamp. 9. The holder according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the distance between each mam wmg and the respective retaining means is larger than the thickness of a stamp which can be placed therebetween. 10. The holder according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein from said upright there extend mam wmgs of different width to hold stamps of correspondingly different sizes. 11. The holder according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said mam w gs and said auxiliary w gs are movably connected to said upright. 12. The holder according to claim 11, wherein said mam wmgs are formed by at least two wmg members (30a, 30b) slidable on said upright. 13. The holder according to claims 11 or 12, wherein on said upright there are formed parallel, dovetail-shapect grooves with which slidably engage correspondingly shaped roots of said mam and auxiliary wmgs. 14. The holder according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said mam wmgs and said auxiliary wmgs are at least partially coated with an high friction coefficient material . 15. The holder according to anyone of tne previous claims, wherein said wmgs are formed m two parts of different width to engage stamps of correspondingly different width.

Inventors: BERTONI ROBERTO, LUISI VINCENZO, BERTONI, ROBERTO, LUISI, VINCENZO
Applicants: BERTONI ROBERTO, LUISI VINCENZO, BERTONI, ROBERTO, LUISI, VINCENZO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B41K1
IPC codes: B41K1