Abstract:
An 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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/664,128, filed Mar. 22, 2005, 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 mechanically assisted embossing seals.  
       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 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]     The second type of seal, a pocket seal, offers the same functionality as desk seals, but in a more compact design. As the term suggests, pocket seals are small enough to fit inside a typical pocket. Pocket seals may also be small enough to fit within a briefcase, a pocketbook, or a three-ring binder. Because of their portability, pocket seals can be easily transported from one location to another, which provides a distinct advantage over stationary desk seals.  
         [0009]     The small size of pocket seals is both an advantage and a drawback. While large desk seals can provide a significant mechanical advantage through various drive mechanisms, the operation of a pocket seal relies primarily on hand strength to create the embossed seal.  
         [0010]     As noted above, the paper stock of the document to be sealed can vary greatly in weight and thickness, as well as in fiber type and content. The denser and thicker the paper, the more force that is required to produce an image. As a result, individuals using pocket seals are frequently faced with fatigue and potential repetitive motion injuries from the constant strain placed on the hand and wrist during the operation. Those afflicted with weak hand muscles, arthritis, or other physical ailments will be limited in their use of a conventional pocket seal. Some individuals may be forced into using the more cumbersome, stationary desk seals. In situations where the use of a desk seal is not possible, however, no other option is readily available.  
         [0011]     When seals are placed on documents, it may be necessary to position and/or align the seal over a particular region of a document. For example, it may be necessary to place a seal at the bottom edge of a document. If the same seal were used to affix a seal to the top edge of another document, e.g. for letterhead, the image would be inverted. Likewise, if the seal were used on the right-hand edge of a document, the image would be turned 90 degrees from the normal reading position. In either of these two latter conditions, the seal image would be difficult to read.  
         [0012]     Conventional pocket seal presses have two opposing arms that are pivotally connected with one another. The two arms are compressible toward one another for moving the sealing ends of the arms toward one another. The die and the counter are typically attached to the opposing arms, at the sealing ends of the respective arms. The die and the counter are normally held apart by one or more springs, which may include one or more leaf springs. The structure of the holder allows the opposing faces of the die and the counter to move normal to one another while preventing the opposing faces from moving parallel to one another. Thus, once the die and the counter are properly oriented and assembled with the holder, the die and counter cannot become misaligned.  
         [0013]     With the die and counter thus connected, the one or more leaf springs define a throat that limits how far from the edge of a sheet the seal can be made. If the throat is not deep enough, the pocket seal cannot produce a correct-reading image located at an interior region of the embossed article. Even if a seal press could be built that has a sufficiently deep throat, a deep throat causes a myriad of insurmountable problems with the seal press as well as with the geometry between the die and counter.  
         [0014]     Thus, there is a need for a 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 having a die and counter that can be positioned in a number of different orientations to allow correctly aligned images to be produced on documents, regardless of the orientation of the seal press relative to the document. There is also a need for an embossing seal with a sufficiently deep throat to allow placement of a seal in an interior region of a document.  
         [0015]     There is also a need for a seal that enables the die and the counter to be interchanged so that the counter comes in contact with the face of the document and displaces the article into the engraved areas of the die on the opposite side. By doing so, an image readable from left to right can be formed on the debossed side of the document.  
         [0016]     There is also a need for a seal that embosses or debosses images into certain materials that are not in sheet form, such as a block of wood or metal. There is also a need for an embossing seal that can be used to form images on both documents, such as paper documents, and harder items such as metal blocks.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, an embossing seal includes a frame, a die exposed at an underside of the frame, and a handle connected to the frame. The handle is desirably movable between an extended position and a depressed position. The embossing seal also desirably includes an impact element movable from a first position in contact with the die to a second position spaced from the die. A spring is preferably coupled with the impact element for normally urging the impact element into the first position, against the die. The spring is preferably deflectable for storing energy. The spring can have any design so long as it is able to store energy and release energy. The spring may include two or more springs in contact with the impact element. The spring may be a coil spring having one or more coils.  
         [0018]     The embossing seal also preferably includes 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. In other preferred embodiments, the handle may incorporate the features found in the lever so that there is not a need for an additional item such as a lever. After the initial downward movement of the handle, 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 against the die. Due to the energy transferred from the spring to the impact element, the impact element strikes the die with a sufficient force to transfer an image from the die to an article abutted against the die.  
         [0019]     In certain preferred embodiments, the die may include a die support that is attached to the frame and the die attached to the die support. The die is preferably detachably connected with the frame so that it can be removed from contact with the seal and later re-attached to the seal. In still other preferred embodiments, the angular orientation of the die relative to the frame may be changeable. In highly preferred embodiments, the angular orientation can be set at zero, 90, 180 and 270 degrees. I still other preferred embodiments, the angular orientation can be set at additional angles such as 45 degrees, 225 degrees, etc. In still other preferred embodiments having both a die and a counter, the energy transferred from the impact element to the die presses a seal on an article positioned between the die and the counter. The embossing seal may be a pocket seal or a desk seal. The counter is preferably detachably connected with the base and angularly rotatable relative to the base as described above for the die. The counter may be directly attachable to the base or may be coupled with the base using a counter support.  
         [0020]     In certain preferred embodiments, the embossing seal includes a counter opposing the die. The counter and the die are desirably movable toward one another for embossing a seal on an item. The die may have a first image formed thereon and the counter may have a second image formed thereon that is a mirror image of the first image. One of the first and second images is preferably raised and one of the first and second images in preferably depressed. The die and the counter may be rotatable to one or more fixed positions for selectively aligning the first and second images of the respective die and counter with an item placed between the die and the counter. The die and the counter may have alignment tabs provided thereon that may be used to properly align the image with an article, such as a document.  
         [0021]     The handle may be pivotally attached to the frame and the frame may be pivotally attached to a base that supports the seal device. In certain preferred embodiments, the spring has a first end connected to the impact element and a second end connected to the frame. The first and second ends of the spring may define a distance that is adjustable for adjusting the tension of the spring and/or the level of energy that may be stored in the spring. In other preferred embodiments, a second spring in contact with the impact element may be added. In still other preferred embodiments, more than two springs may be in contact with the impact element for normally urging the impact element to remain in contact with the die or die support.  
         [0022]     The impact element can have any shape and/or size required for effectively transferring energy or striking force from a spring to the die. In certain preferred embodiments, the impact element has a bottom face that is adapted to selectively strike a backside of the die or die support for transferring energy from the impact element to the die. In certain preferred embodiments, the impact element includes an upper end, the bottom face, and a reduced diameter area between the upper end and the bottom face. The reduced diameter may be an undercut area or a neck that defines an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder. The lever desirably includes a tip end that is adapted to engage the reduced diameter area or the upper shoulder of the impact element for selectively moving the impact element away from the die. The lever is preferably adapted to pivot relative to the frame for urging the tip end of the lever into contact with the impact element, and providing leverage as the tip end urges the impact element away from the die.  
         [0023]     In certain preferred embodiments, the embossing seal includes a lever return spring in contact with the lever for returning the lever from the depressed position to the extended position. The lever may have a first end including the tip end and a second end remote therefrom. The lever may have a notch adjacent the second end thereof that is adapted to receive the lever return spring.  
         [0024]     The embossing seal may also have a base pivotally connected with the frame and a base return spring positioned between the frame and the base for urging the frame from a frame depressed position to a frame extended position.  
         [0025]     In still other preferred embodiments of the present invention, an embossing seal includes a frame, a die exposed at an underside of the frame, and a base pivotally connected to the frame, the base including a counter that opposes the die. The embossing seal also desirably includes a handle pivotally connected to the frame, the handle being movable between an extended position and a depressed position, an impact element disposed in the frame and being 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 against the die. The spring is preferably deflectable for storing energy. The embossing seal also preferably includes a lever pivotally attached to the frame and linking the handle to the impact element. During operation, initial movement of the handle from the handle extended position toward the handle depressed position causes the lever to lift the impact element away from the die for deflecting and storing energy in the spring that is coupled with the impact element. Further movement of the handle toward the handle depressed position causes the lever to release the impact element, thereby transferring the energy stored in the spring to the impact element for urging the impact element against the die with a striking force.  
         [0026]     In certain preferred embodiments, the spring has a first end connected with the impact element and a second end connected with the frame, whereby the spring is deflectable for storing energy therein. The first and second ends of the spring are movable toward one another for adjusting the amount of energy that is storable in the spring.  
         [0027]     Although the invention is primarily directed to use in pocket seals, there is also a need for such an effort-saving improvement for desk seals. Repetitive use of these devices can lead to physical strain, fatigue and possible injury. Thus, the present invention is appropriate for use in desk seals as well.  
         [0028]     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, the base of the embossing seal may be rotated relative to the frame to enable the die to be abutted against a surface of the larger object.  
         [0029]     A mechanical advantage may be obtained in the present invention through the use of one or more linkages or levers. In the embossing seal device disclosed in the present application, manual pressure is exerted on the seal press 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 seal device begins the embossing process and also begins to raise the impact element against the force of an energy-storing element. In one preferred embodiment, the energy-storing element is a torsion spring. However, the energy-storing element can be any component that effectively stores energy, and then releases energy to the impact element. When the impact element is at a predetermined distance or position relative to the die, the impact element is released for striking an area on the back of the die for imparting a striking force on the die. With appropriately chosen mechanical elements, the impact force delivered may be significantly higher than the force required to load the energy-storing element. In highly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the energy-storing element may be adjusted to selectively control the magnitude of the impact force applied by the impact element. The adjustment feature allows the user to select the force exerted on the document to achieve a desirable image on any type of paper stock or sheet material.  
         [0030]     These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embossing seal having a depressible handle, in accordance with certain preferred embodiments to the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2A  shows a cross sectional view of the embossing seal shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 2B  shows an expanded view of a portion of the embossing seal shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows another cross sectional view of the embossing seal shown in  FIG. 1  with the handle being slightly depressed.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of the embossing seal of  FIG. 3  after the handle has been depressed further from the position shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a cross sectional view of the embossing seal of  FIG. 4  after the handle has been depressed further from the position shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional view of the embossing seal of  FIG. 5  after the handle has been depressed further from the position shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  shows a cross sectional view of the embossing seal of  FIG. 1  with a base of the seal rotated relative to a frame of the seal. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, an embossing seal  10  includes a handle  20  that is pivotally connected to a frame  22 , which, in turn, is pivotally connected to a base  24 . The handle  20  includes a leading end  26  and a trailing end  28  remote therefrom. The frame  22  has a leading end  30  and a trailing end  32  remote therefrom. The leading end  26  of the handle  20  is pivotally connected with the leading end  30  of frame  22  via a pivot element  34 . The frame  22  has a first half  36  that may be assembled with a second half  38 . The two halves  36 ,  38  may be assembled using any one of a number of attachment devices such as a tongue-in-groove arrangement, pins insertible into depressions, screws, adhesive, etc.  
         [0040]     The base  24  preferably includes a leading end  40  and a trailing end  42  remote therefrom. The trailing end  42  of the base  24  includes a pair of vertically extending legs  44 ,  46 . The base  24  also desirably includes a first half  48  that may be assembled with a second half  50  using the assembly elements described above. In other preferred embodiments, the base may be made of one piece or may be made of two or more pieces that are assembled together.  
         [0041]     Any one of the handle  20 , the frame  22  and the base  24  may be made from structurally rigid materials such as, structurally rigid plastic resins. In certain preferred embodiments, any one of the handle  20 , frame  22  and base  24  components may be made from plastic resins such as polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), glass-filled nylon, etc. In still other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the elements may be made from metal or metal alloys.  
         [0042]     The pivot element  34  preferably projects from the frame  22 , at the leading end  30  of the frame  22  and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame  22 . The pivot element  34  may be a single pin that extends through the frame or may be formed as two components, with each half projecting from one of the halves  36 ,  38  of the frame  22 . A second pivoting element (not shown) is provided at the trailing end  32  of the frame  22  for pivotally connecting the frame  22  to the trailing end  48  of base  24 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 A, handle  20  has a substantially U-shaped underside  52 . Referring to  FIG. 2A , the inside surface  54  of handle  20  includes a boss  56  projecting therefrom. The boss  56  includes a first surface  58  that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the inside surface  54  of handle  20 . The boss  56  also includes a second surface  60  that extends diagonally relative to inside surface  54  and first surface  58 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 2B , the base  24  has a top surface  62  and a bottom surface  64 . The base may be adapted for sitting atop a flat surface such as a tabletop. In other preferred embodiments, the base may be adapted for engagement by a user&#39;s hand. Thus, the seal disclosed in the present application may be a pocket seal or a desk seal. The leading end  40  of the base  24  desirably has a first recess  66  formed in the top surface  62 . The recess  66  also includes two or more pockets  68  that extend below the floor of recess  66 . The base also desirably includes a second recess  70  that extends from the bottom surface  64  toward the top surface  62 . The second recess is preferably centrally located relative to the first recess  66 . In other words, the second recess  70  may be located equidistant from the two or more pockets  68 .  
         [0045]     The embossing seal  10  also desirably includes a counter support  72  having a top surface  74  and a bottom surface  76 . The bottom surface  76  includes one or more projections  78  extending therefrom that are adapted to fit within the two or more pockets  68 . The bottom surface of the counter support  72  also includes a centrally located anchoring element  80  projecting therefrom. During assembly, the central anchor  80  is received within centrally located second recess  70  and the one or more projections  78  are received within the two or more pockets  68 . As a result, the counter support  72  is reliably secured to the base  24 . In certain preferred embodiments, the counter support  72  is able to rotate relative to the base after being attached thereto.  
         [0046]     The embossing seal  10  also preferably includes a counter  82  that is connected with the counter support  72 . The counter  82  has a top face  84  that preferably contains a portion of a seal.  
         [0047]     The frame  22  preferably includes a die mounting surface  86  including a die mounting face  88  having die mounting pockets  90  formed therein. The seal  10  also desirably includes a die support  92  having one or more projections  94  formed on a first face  96  thereof. The one or more projections  94  are preferably received within the die mounting pockets  90  for holding the die support  92  affixed to the leading end  30  of the frame  22 . Embossing seal  10  also desirably includes die  98  having a face  100  adapted to oppose and abut against the top face  84  of counter  82 .  
         [0048]     In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the die is attached directly to the frame and the counter is attached directly to the base. In these particular preferred embodiments, there may be no die support and/or counter support.  
         [0049]     In the particular preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1, 2A  and  2 B, the die  98  and counter  82  are circular in shape. In other preferred embodiments, however, the die and counter have other shapes. The die and counter may be rotated so that they can be aligned with an article to be sealed. In certain preferred embodiments, the die and counter can be rotated at zero, 90, 180 and 270 degrees so that the seal image can be properly aligned with a document. The projections  78 ,  94  on the respective counter support  72  and the die support  92 , are preferably received by the pockets  68  and  90 , for holding the counter and die at the particular zero, 90, 180 and 270 degree angle selected by a user.  
         [0050]     In operation, the projections  78  on the bottom face of the counter support  72  are sized and shaped so that the counter support  72  can be displaced vertically and rotated relative to the base  24  without disengaging the central projection  80  from its attachment to central recess  70 . As a result, the counter support  72  is able to rotate relative to the base  24  without becoming disengaged from base  24 . The die support can be rotated in a similar manner. The counter and the die may have alignment marks that indicate the angle at which the counter and die have been set. The alignment marks preferably insure that the die and counter are properly aligned with one another and/or the document being sealed.  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 3 , the embossing seal  10  preferably includes a lever  102  having a leading end  104  and a trailing end  106 . The leading end  104  includes a lever tip  108  including a ledge  110  and the trailing end  106  includes a notch  112 . The lever  102  also includes a lever slot  114  having elongated sidewalls  116 . Embossing seal  10  also preferably includes a lever pivot element  118  that is captured within the lever slot  114 . The lever pivot element  118  enables the lever to move between the fully extended position shown in  FIG. 2A  and a depressed position shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 3 , the embossing seal  10  also preferably includes a torsion spring  120  having a leading end  122  and a trailing end  124 . The torsion spring  120  has a center coil  126  that facilitates compression and expansion thereof. The center coil  126  of torsion spring  120  preferably does not engage lever pivot element  118  during operation of the seal.  
         [0053]     In certain preferred embodiments, the torsion spring has a pair of leading ends that are spaced from one another and that are connected to the impact element. In other preferred embodiments, the center coil  126  may include two or more coils for increasing the amount of energy that may be stored in the torsion spring. In still other preferred embodiments, a first torsion spring may be provided on one side of the lever and a second torsion spring may be provided on another side of the lever for balancing the forces exerted upon the impact element.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B  and  3 , embossing seal  10  also preferably includes an impact element  128  having a lower end  130 , an upper end  132 , and a reduced diameter neck  134  defining an upper shoulder  136  and a lower shoulder  138 . The impact element  128  also desirably includes at least one opening  140  ( FIG. 2A ) that receives at least one leading end  122  of torsion spring  120 . The impact element  128  is adapted for sliding movement along a vertical axis designated X-X ( FIG. 3 ).  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 3 , the embossing seal  10  also preferably includes a lever return spring  142  having a first end  144  engaging notch  112  of lever  102  and a second end  146  secured to the frame  22  of the seal. The lever return spring  142  also includes one or more center coils  148  that enable the lever return spring to store energy for returning the lever to its original state after being compressed.  
         [0056]     Embossing seal  10  also includes a frame return spring  150  having a lower end  152  in contact with base  24  and an upper end  154  in contact with frame  22 . The frame return spring  150  is adapted to return the frame to its original idle position after the handle and frame have been depressed.  
         [0057]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , initially the strike face  100  of die  98  is not in contact with the top face  84  of counter  82 . In order to form a seal on an item such as a document or sheet, the item is placed between the die  98  and the counter  82 . Initially, when the handle is in the extended position shown in  FIG. 2A , the lever pivot element  118  is located at the forward end of the slot  114  of lever  102 . When downward pressure is applied on the handle  20 , the lever  102  is urged forward so that the tip end  108  is urged into contact with the impact element. Referring to  FIG. 3 , when tip  110  of lever  102  is positioned in engagement with the upper shoulder  136  of impact element  128 , the handle may be pivoted downwardly toward base  24 . The boss  56  of handle  20  urges the lever  102  to pivot about the lever pivot element  118 . Such action causes the tip  108  of the lever  102  to urge the bottom face  130  of the impact element  128  away from the die  98 .  
         [0058]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , further downward movement of the handle  20  urges the lever  102  and the tip end  108  of the lever to pivot further. This movement further elevates the bottom face  130  of the impact element  128  above the die  98 . As the lever  102  is being pivoted, the torsion spring  120  is being compressed, thereby storing energy in the torsion spring. In addition, compression force is being stored in lever return spring  142 . At this point, the energy cannot be released from the springs  120 ,  142  because the tip end  108  of the lever  102  prevents the impact element  128  from moving back toward the die  98 .  
         [0059]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as the handle is depressed still further, the tip end  108  of the lever  102  moves toward the outer perimeter of the upper shoulder  136  of the impact element  128 . During this further movement, additional compression energy is stored in torsion spring  120  and lever return spring  142 .  
         [0060]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , after lever  102  pivots even further, the tip end  108  of the lever  102  releases the upper shoulder  136  of the impact element  128 . Once the tip end  108  releases the upper shoulder  136 , the impact element  128  is free to move downwardly along the axis designated X-X ( FIG. 3 ), due primarily to the energy that has been stored in torsion spring  120 . Once the tip end  108  of the lever  102  releases the upper shoulder  136 , the torsion spring  120  forces the impact element  128  downwardly toward the die support  92  which transfers the force to the die  98  intimately connected therewith. The force exerted upon the die  98  by the impact element  128  will emboss an item (not shown), such as a paper document, positioned between the die  98  and the counter  82 .  
         [0061]     After an item has been sealed, the handle  20  can be released. At this time, the lever return spring  42  will release the energy stored therein for moving the handle back to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first end  144  of the lever return spring  142  will push upwardly on notch  112  formed at the trailing end  106  of the lever  102 , which, in turn, forces the handle to return to the original position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 A. In addition, the frame return spring  150  ( FIG. 2A ) will transfer stored energy to the frame and the base for returning the frame back to the idle or extended position shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0062]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the item to be embossed may be too large to fit between the frame  22  and the base  24 . For example, a seal may have to be placed on a block  200 . In this instance, the base  24  may be rotated to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . After rotating the base  24  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the die  298  may be positioned over a surface  202  of the block  200 . The embossing seal may then be operated as described above for forming a seal on the surface  202  of the block  200 .  
         [0063]     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.