Abstract:
A self-inking stamp is filled with ink by the top thereof at a pressure. The stamp has a housing and a stamping unit which is connected to an actuating element, movably arranged in the housing and provided with stamping characters. The housing also has a drawer which is provided with at least one pushing opening through which an inkpad container can be inserted. The drawer is provided with an opening on the lower side thereof in front of the stamping unit, which makes it possible to ink the stamping characters in an upward turned position by applying them to the ink pad which is arranged in the container thereof. Guiding and centring projections for the ink-pad container are arranged in an insertion direction on two opposite sides of the drawer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of AUSTRIAN Application No. GM 184/2003 filed on Mar. 18, 2003. Applicant also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §365 of PCT/AT2004/000094 filed on Mar. 16, 2004. The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a self-inking stamp with upper inking, comprising a housing in which a stamp unit which is coupled with an actuating part and includes stamp characters is movably arranged and which has an insertion compartment with at least one insertion opening for an ink pad container, said insertion compartment having an opening at its lower side facing the stamp unit for inking of the stamp characters, when the latter are in their upper, turned position, by contacting the ink pad in said container. 
   Many such self-inking stamps with upper inking in which an ink pad or a stamping pad container with the ink pad is inserted in a compartment in the housing in drawer-like manner are known, cf. e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,696 A or U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,916 A. What is important there is that the ink pad container is comparatively smooth-running when pulled out of their insertion compartment if stamping ink has to be refilled or if the container and its ink pad need to be exchanged, so that then the filled or a new container can be inserted again in smooth-running manner; however, the smooth-running guide nevertheless shall ensure a secure hold for the respective ink pad container in the inserted operating position so that, in the resting position of the self-inking stamp, the upwardly directed, ink-pad-contacting stamp characters will contact the former in the correct position and satisfactory inking thereof can be achieved. 
   On the other hand, it has already been known from AT 4535 U and WO 01/85 462 A, respectively, to provide a groove or, preferably, two grooves on the upper side of the ink pad container in the operating position (which is, on the upper side, i.e., outer side, of the bottom of the trough-shaped container) in which, when the container is inserted into the insertion compartment, one rib (each) provided on the upper side of the insertion compartment is positively engaged. This measure shall prevent the provision of non-fitting replacement ink pads in that the projecting ribs, if there are no corresponding grooves on the bottom of the ink pad container, constitute an obstacle when inserting the ink pad container. However, with these ribs that engage in the grooves, neither a smooth-running guidance of the ink-pad container in its insertion compartment, nor a secure, perfect hold of the ink pad container in its set position in the insertion compartment is achieved or assisted. 
   Furthermore, stamp designs of a different type, without an insertion compartment for the ink pad container have been suggested, in which a snap fit retention or press fit retention is provided for the ink pad on an upper part of a stamp, cf. e.g. WO 01/83 228 A, EP 438 067 A or GB 2 226 985 A. What is disadvantageous there is that an exchange of the ink pad, or of the ink pad container, respectively, is comparatively difficult to carry out. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is now an object of the invention to provide a self-inking stamp of the initially defined type, in which a guidance of comparatively smooth running in the insertion compartment can be provided for the ink pad container during insertion thereof, wherein, nevertheless, a good, defined hold of the ink pad container in the correct position can be achieved in the insertion compartment. 
   The self-inking stamp according to the invention and of the initially defined type is characterized in that guiding and centering projections are provided for the ink pad container which are arranged on two opposite sides of the insertion compartment in the direction of insertion. 
   In this construction it suffices that in the region of the insertion compartment, the guiding and centering projections for the ink pad container are produced with as narrow tolerances as possible so as to ensure a precise guiding and centering effect during insertion of the ink pad container into the insertion compartment and an exact operating position of the ink pad container, and the remaining walls of the insertion compartment—insofar as they are present at all—may provide a comparatively loose guiding of the ink pad container. 
   Here, the guiding and centering projections may very well be each formed by a plurality of knobs or the like, i.e. by discontinuous projections, preferably, however, the desired guiding and centering effect is provided in that the guiding and centering projections are formed by ledges extending in the insertion direction. For an exact contact of the ink pad container and also for reasons of production it is furthermore suitable if the ledges are substantially rectangular, seen in front view. 
   As such, the ink-pad container may be substantially rectangular, having a plane bottom and plane walls which project away from the bottom, and in that case this ink pad container would contact the guiding and centering projections only in certain regions thereof with its walls or with its bottom, and otherwise, it would be present adjacent the guiding and centering projections, without abutting insertion compartment delimiting parts. In order to allow also in this instance an—although smooth-running—contact on other insertion compartment delimiting parts, it is furthermore advantageous if the ink pad container has lateral recesses cooperating with the guiding and centering projections. 
   For the desired centering effect it is particularly suitable if the recesses are provided on that rim of the ink pad container which is the lower rim in the inserted state of the ink pad container. Then, of course, also the guiding and centering projections will be provided on the lower rim of the insertion compartment in corresponding manner. Centering will then be effected as far outwards as possible and at a great distance from the retention element. 
   For a simple design of the recesses on the ink pad container it is suitable if the recesses on their side which is the upper side in the inserted state of the ink pad container are delimited by ledge projections on the side walls of the ink pad container. 
   With a view to the exact positioning of the ink pad container in the insertion compartment it is also particularly advantageous if at least one resilient retention element is arranged in the insertion compartment for resilient abutment on the ink pad container. With this design, the resilient retention element contacts the ink pad container, thereby preventing the ink pad container from unintentionally, accidentally sliding out of the insertion compartment, even if the container can be inserted in the insertion compartment in smooth-running manner. The resilient retention element may contact the ink pad container with a certain predetermined retention force so that, if desired, also a sufficiently tight contact of the ink pad container will be caused on the guiding and centering projections of the insertion compartment located opposite said retention element in the insertion compartment. In its inserted position, the ink pad container can assume an exact, defined position—with regard to pressing the stamp characters on, for the purpose of inking the same. 
   Even though the resilient retention element may also be arranged laterally in the insertion compartment, it is nevertheless suitable in terms of construction and also for reasons of a simple centering, if the resilient retention element is arranged on the upper side of the compartment, located opposite the opening provided on the lower side of the insertion compartment. 
   In order to make the movement for the ink pad container particularly smooth running and in order to provide an increased resistance only in the first and last phases of the insertion or removal of the ink pad container, it is advantageous if the resilient retention element is designed as a snap-in element for snapping engagement on the ink pad container. In this instance, the ink pad container may e.g. simply be provided with a peripherally raised rim on its bottom side which is the upper one in its inserted state, which raised rim will cause the aforementioned increased resistance during insertion and removal, and behind which the snap-in element will snap in during insertion. At the same time, this embodiment of the retention element as a snap-in element and the provision of corresponding snap-in depressions on the ink pad containers may also be employed to at least make the use of non-permitted, not-fitting ink pad containers more difficult. 
   In order to be able to overcome the resistance during insertion and removal, respectively, of the ink pad container more easily, the resilient retention element may have a preferably knob-shaped snap-in projection. 
   For a snap-in position that is defined as precisely as possible, it is, moreover, suitable if the ink pad container, preferably in its bottom area which is upwardly arranged in its inserted state, has a depression for snapping engagement of the resilient retention element. Here, it is furthermore advantageous if the depression is formed by a groove extending in the insertion direction of the ink pad container. It is also suitable if the groove-depression is delimited on both ends by an end wall. The groove or, generally expressed, the depression, may advantageously be provided centrally in the bottom of the ink pad container, and corresponding thereto, also the resilient retention, or snap-in element(s), respectively, is (are) provided centrally relative to the width of the insertion compartment, on the compartment upper side. 
   Particularly for functional reasons, advantageously two resilient retention elements may be arranged in successive alignment in the insertion direction of the ink pad container, it being furthermore suitable if the two resilient retention elements are tongue-shaped snap-in elements having one snap-in projection on each one of their free ends that face away from each other. These tongue-shaped snap-in elements then preferably cooperate with a central groove on the container upper side which, as has been mentioned, at both of its ends is delimited by an end wall so as to cause, by these end walls, the phase-wise resistance during insertion and removal, respectively, of the container. 
   Here, the ink pad container can be inserted into the insertion compartment with any one of its two broad sides ahead, from the one side of the insertion compartment, and, on the other hand, it may also be provided for the insertion compartment to have insertion openings on two opposite sides thereof so that the ink pad container can be inserted or also removed on both sides of the stamp. 
   When removing the ink pad container, the snap-in elements also have the effect that the push-out movement is assisted by the resilience of the resilient snap-in elements after the mentioned resistance has been overcome, wherein in the case of the particularly preferred embodiment with a groove that is delimited on both of its ends and with two resilient tongue-shaped snap-in elements it is achieved that in the course of pushing out, the snap in element which is located forward in the direction of pushing out, will brake the already largely pushed out ink pad container again in that the rear groove end wall which now has been moved towards the snap-in element comes to abut on this snap-in element; thereby the ink pad container is prevented from unintentionally “shooting out” too far. 
   The resilient resistance of the or each retention element can be achieved by an elastic design of the retention element itself, e.g. in the form of resilient tongues, as mentioned, yet the resilience may also be provided or assisted and increased in that the or each retention element is acted on by the force of a spring which presses the actuating part in a direction away from the housing. Therefore, if in this embodiment the (respective) retention element is to be moved in a direction away from the container, the force of the spring which acts on the actuating part becomes effective; in this embodiment, as a consequence of the elasticity of the material, the resilient design of the retention element—if provided at all—can be dimensioned to be weaker. 
   In corresponding manner, the invention also relates to an ink pad container to be used in a self-inking stamp according to the invention, wherein the ink pad container comprises a bottom and walls projecting therefrom, and wherein according to the invention lateral recesses are provided on two opposite side walls and cooperate with guiding and centering projections in the insertion compartment. Here, it is further advantageous if the recesses are provided on the rim of the side walls which faces away from the bottom. It is also suitable if the recesses on their side which is the upper side in the inserted state of the ink pad container are delimited by ledge projections on the side walls of the container. 
   It is also advantageous if the bottom is designed with a depression which, preferably, is provided in the middle thereof, for snapping engagement of a resilient retention element present in the insertion compartment of the self-inking stamp. As has already previously been mentioned, it may then be further provided that the depression is formed by a groove extending in the direction of insertion of the ink pad container; it is also suitable if the groove on both ends is delimited by an end wall. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be further explained by way of particularly preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which, however, it shall not be restricted. In detail, 
       FIG. 1  shows a view of a self-inking stamp according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a section through this self-inking stamp according to line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows a section through the self-inking stamp according to line III-III of  FIG. 2 , yet in an intermediate position with slightly pressed-down actuating bow and without stamping plate; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show the essential parts of this self-inking stamp in an exploded view, i.e. in a perspective view once seen from the front and once seen from the front lower side; 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view onto the upper side of the housing of the self-inking stamp, substantially according to arrow VI of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the stamp housing with the stamp-unit removed and without an ink pad container, for illustrating the lower side of the wall which delimits the insertion compartment on the upper side thereof; and 
       FIG. 8  shows a self-inking stamp with a modified ink-pad container in an exploded illustration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The self-inking stamp  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6  comprises a stamp housing  2  called housing  2  in short hereinafter, in a per se conventional manner, which is frame-shaped and, on its upper side, has an insertion compartment  3  (cf. also  FIGS. 3 to 5 ) for an ink pad container  4 . As is visible in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , within the housing  2  there is a stamp unit  5  which, in a per se conventional manner, carries a stamp plate carrier  6  and, mounted thereon, a stamp plate  7  with stamp characters entered in  FIG. 2  only. In this case, in  FIG. 2  the stamp unit  5  is shown in its upper resting or inking position from which it can be converted, within the housing  2 , into a lower operating or printing position turned by 180°, with the assistance of a bow-shaped actuating part  8  which has two lateral legs  9 ,  10  laterally guided on the housing  2 . For this purpose, a conventional turning mechanism with curve control and slot guide only quite generally denoted by  11  in  FIG. 2  is provided which, as such, is sufficiently known and, thus, does not require any further explanation here. 
   The bow-shaped actuating part  8  has a transparent or translucent inspection window  12  on its upper side, which inspection window covers an insertion compartment  13  for a paper insert reflecting the stamp imprint. Furthermore, the actuating part  8  is acted on in upward direction, i.e. away from housing  2 , by a spring  14  provided as helical spring; here, the spring  14  is supported by the upper side of the housing  2  in the region of a cross-shaped guiding projection  15  on a middle wall  16  provided between two openings, which middle wall—partially—delimits the insertion compartment  3  on the upper side thereof, cf. also  FIGS. 4 and 6 . In this wall  16 , two tongue-shaped retention or snap-in elements  17 ,  18 , which are successively arranged in alignment in the insertion direction of the ink pad container  4 , are kept clear by arcuate recesses, e.g.  19  (cf.  FIG. 6 ), and on their lower side, these retention elements  17 ,  18  each have a knob-shaped, spherical snap-in projection  20  (cf.  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  7 ). In the state of the ink pad container  4  inserted in the insertion compartment  3 , these knob-shaped snap-in projections  20  engage in an elongate, centrally arranged groove or, generally expressed, a depression  21  extending in insertion direction, which groove or, depression  21  extends on the upper side of the ink pad container  4 , on its outer side in the bottom  22  thereof (cf.  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Otherwise, the ink pad container  4  is conventionally trough-shaped, with walls, e.g.  23 ,  24  (cf.  FIG. 4 ) extending away from the bottom  22 . In the operating or engagement position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the snap-in projections  20  on the snap or retention elements  17 ,  18  can contact the groove bottom by exerting a force thereon or also without any pressure, the latter being preferred. 
   On its lower side  25 , the insertion compartment  3  has an opening  25 ′, cf.  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , for the passage of the stamp characters  7 , and on the two narrow sides of the housing  2 , this opening  25 ′ is delimited by e.g. ledge-shaped guiding and centering projections  26 . During insertion and removal as well as in the inserted operating position, cf. in particular  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the ink pad container  4  contacts these guiding and centering projections  26 , the ink pad container  4  having corresponding recesses  27  on its narrow sides  23  (cf.  FIG. 4 ) in the region of its lower rim. Just like the guiding and centering projections  26 , these recesses  27  are designed to be continuous, and by the engagement of the guiding and centering projections  26  in the recesses  27 , the exact position of the ink pad container  4  in its inserted state is defined, the ink pad container  4  optionally is pressed into this position by the resilient retention elements  17 ,  18  if they, too, press against the upper side of the container  4  in the region of the groove  21  in their operating position. According to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the recesses  27  are delimited by ledge projections  28  on their upper sides. Upwards of these ledge projections  28 , the walls  23  on the narrow sides of the ink pad container  4  stand back again, so that in this region the ink pad container  4  possibly can be inserted in and removed from the insertion compartment  3  without any friction. 
   As also is visible in  FIG. 2 , the insertion compartment  3  is provided with insertion openings  29  and  30 , respectively, both on the front side and on the rear side of the housing  2  so that the ink pad container  4  can be inserted in the housing  2  into the insertion compartment  3  thereof from either side and also can be pushed out of the insertion compartment  3  towards either side. 
   When inserting the ink pad container  4  in the insertion compartment  3 , at first a resistance has to be overcome which is caused by the end wall which is the front end wall during this insertion, e.g.  18 ′ according to the illustration in  FIG. 4 , this end wall  18 ′ causing an upward lifting of the first resilient retention element, e.g.  17 , contrary to the resilience. This counter-resilience is caused by the material elasticity of the retention elements  17 ,  18  as well as by the resilience of the spring  14  of the actuating part, which spring  14  is kept compressed between the wall  16  and the upper side of the actuating part  8  (cf.  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In the final phase of the insertion of the ink pad container  4  in the insertion compartment  3 , such a resistance must once more be overcome, i.e. now because the end wall  17 ′ which is the rear end wall during insertion is passed by the associated snap projection  20  on the front retention element  17 . During a removal, temporary resistances will occur in a similar way, wherein the resilience of the retention elements  17 ,  18 , when overcoming these resistances, due to the wedge-effect causes a force component on the ink pad container  4  in the removal direction so that the ink pad container  4  is “shot forward” by a certain extent (similar effects occur when inserting the ink pad container  4  in the insertion compartment  3 ). 
   From  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 , furthermore the ink pad  4 ′ contained in the ink pad container  4  can be seen. 
   Of course, the actuating part  8  with its legs  9 ,  10  is snapped over the side walls of the housing  2  in the assembled position of the self-inking stamp  1 , cf. the detents  31  in  FIG. 3 , so that it will be retained on the housing  2  despite the force of the spring  14 . Moreover, in  FIG. 3  the actuating bow  8  is illustrated in a somewhat depressed (cf. arrow  32 ) intermediate position, viewed relative to the housing  2 , wherein it can be snapped in in this intermediate position in hook-like manner by means of snap-in elements  33  (cf. also  FIGS. 4 and 5  in addition to  FIG. 3 ) in a per se conventional manner on corresponding detents  34  of the housing  2 . In this intermediate position, it is possible to remove—or insert—the ink pad container  4 , since in this position the stamp plate carrier  6  together with the stamp plate ( 7  in  FIG. 2 ) which is not shown in  FIG. 3  are located in a position spaced from the ink pad  4 ′, whereas in the resting position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the stamp plate  7  contacts the lower side of the ink pad  4 ′. 
   Furthermore, in  FIG. 3  as well as in  FIG. 1  it is visible that the ink pad container  4 , in its position inserted within the insertion compartment  3 , by means of its upper narrow-side edges, contacts rounded portions  35  in the upper corners of the insertion openings  29 ,  30  in the front and rear housing walls, respectively, this contact of the ink pad container  4  on the rounded portions  35  also assisting in the desired centering. The lower side of the wall  16  can also act to guide and assist the centering of the ink pad container  4 , in particular during insertion of the ink pad container  4 , as particularly results from  FIG. 3 . Below the rounded portions  35  and above the ledges  26 , the ink pad container  4  is provided spaced from the side wall of the housing  2 , as can also be recognized from  FIG. 3 . 
   The individual parts of the self-inking stamp  1  described, i.e. in particular the housing  2 , the actuating part  8 , the inspection window  12  as well as the stamp plate carrier  6  and also the container  4  for the ink pad  29  preferably are made in a per se conventional manner of plastics, such as, e.g., ABS or POM. 
   As a variant of the exemplary embodiment illustrated, it would, e.g., also be conceivable to let the retention elements  17 ,  18  simply contact, under pressure, the upper side of a container bottom  22  designed without a depression (i.e. groove  21 ), thereby providing a frictional engagement instead of the snap-action described in order to retain the container  4  in the insertion compartment  3 . Since the guiding and centering effect can be achieved with exactness by the ledge projections  26  and the recesses  27 , it is, furthermore, also possible to design the entire bottom  22  of the container  4  depressed instead of providing the groove  21  as a depression, i.e. to provide only a peripherally extending, raised rim having an effect similar to that of the end walls  17 ′,  18 ′. Furthermore, it would be conceivable to centrally arrange only one single resilient retention element, and in that case it would also be possible to configure this retention element as a resilient snap element with a central, spherical or knob-shaped snap-in projection which can snap into a corresponding spherical calotte-shaped snap-in depression in the bottom  22  of the container  4 . 
   Finally, in  FIG. 8  a self-inking stamp  1  basically as described before, yet with an empty insertion compartment  3  as well as with an ink pad container  4  located in front thereof is illustrated, in whose bottom  22 , instead of the previously described groove depression  21 , two semi-spherical snap-in depressions  21 A,  21 B are provided in which the knob-shaped snap-in projections  20  snap in as described before by way of FIGS.  2 ,  5  and  7 , when the ink pad container  4  is inserted in the insertion compartment  3 . Also in this manner, a secure hold with centering of the ink pad container  4  is achieved, a type of “clicking in” of the ink pad container  4  occurring when inserting the ink pad container  4  into the insertion compartment  3 . Otherwise, the embodiment of the self-inking stamp  1  according to  FIG. 8  corresponds to that of  FIGS. 1 to 7  so that it is not necessary to explain it anew. 
   The ledge-shaped guiding and centering projections  26  may also be discontinuous instead of the continuous design illustrated, and the cross-sectional shape of these projections  26  may also be of a design other than the rectangular one illustrated, such as a quarter-circular shape.