Abstract:
A two-ended ink stamper has at least one handle with at least two ends. A first frame and a second frame are provided, and each frame is disposed adjacent to a different one of the ends of the handle. Each frame extends in a different direction from the handle. At least two platens are respectively operatively attached to, and disposed within, one of the frames for selective movement within the frame between a non-marking position and a marking position. Each platen is secured to the handle and extends outward from a different end of the handle. Thus, moving the handle moves the platens relative to the frames and between non-marking and marking positions.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to hand held ink stampers, and more particularly to a single ink stamper that provides multiple stamp designs. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional hand-held, pre-inking ink stampers, like that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,398 issued to MacNeil, have a handle fixed to a platen holding an ink stamp die on the bottom of the platen. The platen is mounted within a frame or cover with an open bottom. The handle is positioned above the frame so that pushing the handle downward pushes the platen and stamp die downward and toward the open bottom of the frame in position to stamp whatever surface the frame bottom is abutting. 
   The pre-inking stampers, however, are limited because they can only provide a single stamping surface at one end of the stamper. A stamp die providing a different design or color needs to be provided by a separate stamper or the present stamper must be disassembled and reassembled with the new desired stamp die. 
   Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hand-held ink stamper that provides more than one stamp die in order to provide alternative stamp designs or colors on a single ink stamper without the need for disassembly of the ink stamper. 
   These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The problems mentioned above are solved by the present invention in which a two ended ink stamper has at least one handle with at least two ends. A first frame and a second frame are provided, and each frame is disposed adjacent to a different one of the ends of the handle. Each frame extends in a different direction from the handle. At least two platens are respectively operatively attached to, and disposed within, one of the frames for selective movement within the frame between a non-marking position and a marking position. Each platen is secured to the handle and extends outward from a different end of the handle. Thus, moving the handle moves the platens relative to the frames and between non-marking and marking positions. 
   In another aspect of the invention, each platen is attached to one of the frames with a resilient member biasing each frame away from the handle so that the platen is biased to the non-marking position. 
   In yet another aspect of the invention, the handle has interior walls generally shaped in the outline of a “+” to provide support for portions of the platens being inserted into the handle. The interior walls also provide locking grooves for receiving locking ribs on the platens in order to secure the platens to the handle. Finally, the interior walls also have stabilizing fins that abut, and are positioned between, the platens within the handle. 
   The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings, provide a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front and right side perspective view of an ink stamper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, top and back perspective view of the ink stamper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a handle of the ink stamper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the handle taken along line IV-IV on  FIG. 3  in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the handle taken along line V-V on  FIG. 3  in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an elevational back view of a frame of the ink stamper shown partially in cross section in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the frame of the ink stamper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a top and side perspective view of a platen for the ink stamper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8A  is cross sectional view of a portion of the ink stamper taken along the line  8 A- 8 A on  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom and side perspective view of a platen for the ink stamper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a front view of the ink stamper shown partially in cross section in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is a right side view of the ink stamper shown partially in cross section in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hand-held, pre-inking stamper  10  has two cases or frames  12 ,  14  on opposite ends of an actuator or handle  16 . Platens  18  and  20  are respectively disposed within a corresponding one of the frames  12  or  14 , and each of the platens is fixed to the handle  16 . Each platen  18 ,  20  has a stamp die  22  or  24  and a retaining clip  26  or  28  that clips onto the platen and retains the stamp die on the platen. The stamp dies  22 ,  24  are any known die, including those made of gels or ink refillable porous materials, and is not limited to any shape as long as it positions a stamp with a marking design at the face of retainers  26 ,  28 . A hinged lid  30 ,  32  is connected to the frame  12  or  14  to selectively cover the stamp dies. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the handle  16  has a generally tubular body  34  with four exterior walls  36   a - d  generally forming a rectangle, an open top end  37  and an open lower end  39 . Each exterior wall  36   a - d  has vertically extending ribs  38  on an interior surface  40  of the exterior walls for guiding the handle as it slides on the frames  12  and  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , four of the ribs  38  have lateral protrusions  42   a - d  which cooperatively act as a stopper against the frames  12  or  14  moving into the handle. 
   Handle  16  also has bending interior walls  44 ,  46  that, cooperatively with front and back walls  36   a ,  36   c , form the outline of a “+” shape as shown in  FIG. 3 . The interior walls are shaped this way in order to provide support for portions of the platens  12 ,  14  inserted into, and connecting to, the handle. The interior walls  44 ,  46  extend from front and back exterior walls  36   a  and  36   c  of the handle, and each has a main brace  48   a ,  48   b  extending respectively from exterior sidewalls  36   b  and  36   d  to interior sidewalls  44   a ,  46   a.    
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the interior walls  44 ,  46  have a plurality of stabilizer fins  50  extending inwardly and laterally from an interior surface  52 . The stabilizer fins  50  sit vertically between, and abut, the two platens  18  and  20  when the platens are fixed to the handle (see  FIG. 10 ). 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , handle  16  also provides horizontally extending locking grooves  54 ,  56  respectively near the upper and lower ends of both interior sidewall  44  and  46  (interior sidewall  44   a  is shown and sidewall  46   a  has the same grooves). The grooves  54 ,  56  receive locking ribs  106  or  108  extending from the platens  18 ,  20  as explained below with regard to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , frame  12  shown (frame  14  is the same) has a generally rectangular body  58  with an open bottom end  60  formed by four walls  62   a - d . Each wall  62   a - d  has an upper portion  64   a - d  pushed back from an outer periphery  66  and dimensioned to slide within handle  16  from the handle&#39;s upper and lower open ends  37 ,  39  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). The upper portions  64   a - d  are shaped to avoid the interior walls  44 ,  46  of the handle  16 . A shoulder  68  connects the outer periphery  66  to the upper wall portions  64   a - d . Two of the upper portion sidewalls  64   b ,  64   d  has a laterally and horizontally extending stopper ledge  70 ,  72  extending inward where the upper portion sidewalls meet the shoulder  68 . These ledges  70 ,  72  prevent unintentional separation of the platens  18 ,  20  from the frames  12 ,  14  as explained below. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a bridge  74  spans from the front wall  62   a  to the back wall  62   c  at the height of shoulder  68 . The bridge  74  has a circular aperture  76  in the center. The bridge  74  and sidewalls  62   a - d  cooperatively define two square openings  78 ,  80 . The aperture  76  and openings  78 ,  80 , respectively, receive pin  112  and towers  102  and  204  from the platen  18  or  20  (See  FIGS. 8-10 ). The back wall  62   c  has a pair of hinge brackets  82 ,  84  to respectively connect to hinge brackets  85 ,  87  on the lid  30  or  32  as shown on  FIG. 2 . 
   While the frame  12  or  14  is shown with solid walls, it will be appreciated that as long as a frame piece operates to at least provide a distal bottom or top edge of the ink stamper so that the platen and stamp die can be positioned at particular distances from this edge for defining a marking and non-marking position, then such a frame still falls within the scope of the present invention. This distal edge is typically placed against the surface to be marked but need not be. Thus, the frame  12  or  14  may actually only cover a portion of the platens or may simply be made of structural beams and columns. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , platen  18  (and similarly platen  20 ) has four walls  86   a - d  defining an open, rectangular, bottom end  88  (also referred to as the far end of the platen relative to its position on the handle  16 ) and a top wall  90 . The height of clips  92  (shown on  FIG. 2 ) on the stamp die retainer  26  or  28  corresponds to the height of sidewalls  86   b  and  86   d  to provide a snug fit that locks the retainer to the bottom end  88  of the platens  18  or  20 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , two resilient stopper tabs  94 ,  96  extend upward from top wall  90  and have widened pointed tips  98 ,  100 . The distance between tab  94  and tab  96  corresponds to the distance between stopper shoulders  70  and  72  on frames  12  and  14  so that tabs  94 ,  96  must be squeezed slightly inward in order to mount the platen  18  in the corresponding frame. Once the tips  98 ,  100  are placed interiorly of the shoulders  70 ,  72 , the tabs can be released, and the platen will not disengage from the frame  12  or  14  unless the tabs  94 ,  96  are squeezed again since the tips  98 ,  100  will respectively engage the shoulders  70 ,  72  blocking further motion of the platen toward the bottom end  60  of the frame. 
   As also illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , platen  18  also has two chimneys or towers  102 ,  104  extending upward from top wall  90  and are open at the top wall  90  in order to provide access to the back of a stamp die  22  or  24  sitting within a main chamber  89  of the platen  18  for reloading of ink. A horizontally extending locking rib  106 ,  108  protrudes from opposite sides near the top of the two towers  102 ,  104 . These ribs are snapped into grooves  54  or  56  on the handle  16  as shown on  FIG. 12 . 
   With this structure in mind, it will be understood that each square opening  78  and  80  on the frame  12  or  14  (shown on  FIG. 7 ) provides access to the upper portion of the frame for one of the towers  102  or  104 , and one of the stopper tabs  94  or  96 . It will also be understood that interior walls  44 ,  46  of the handle  16  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) are shaped to avoid, and in one embodiment abut, the two towers  102 ,  104 . As explained above, the top edges  110  of the towers are pressed against the stabilizing fins  50  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 10 ) of the handle when the platens  12 ,  14  are secured to the handle. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , platen  18  also includes a mounting pin  112  extending upward generally from the center of top wall  90 . The shaft  116  of the pin is “X” shaped as shown in  FIG. 8A  and has a diameter to fit through aperture  76  on the frame  12 . The top of the pin is shaped to receive a cap  114  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 ) that snaps onto the pin. For this purpose, the cap  114  has an annular inner rib  126  (shown on  FIG. 10 ) for snapping into an annular groove  128  (shown on  FIG. 8 ) near the top of pin  112 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 10 , a resilient member such as a coil spring  118  is wound around the shaft  116  of the pin  112  and is compressed between a bottom edge  120  of the cap  114  and a top surface  122  of the bridge  74  on the frame  12  or  14 . This structure biases the platen  18  away from the frame&#39;s bottom end  60 . In other words, each platen is biased to the “non-marking” position. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10-11 , in order to operate the ink stamper  10 , the lid  30  or  32  over the stamp die  22  or  24  with the desired stamp design is opened and the corresponding frame  12  or  14  is placed against the surface to be marked. The handle  16  is then pushed toward that end of the frame and the surface to be marked. This action moves the “marking” platen toward the open distal end  60  of the frame  12  or  14  on the marking end of the ink stamper (the “marking frame”) and overcomes the force of the spring  118  and compresses it. Once the mark is made and the handle  16  is released, the force of the spring  118  forces the platen back away from the frame end  60  and away from the surface that was marked. 
   While this marking action proceeds, both the platen  18  or  20 , spring  118  and the frame  12  or  14  on the opposite end of the ink stamper (the “non-marking” side) are pulled inward while maintaining their positions relative to each other (i.e. the spring on the non-marking side is not compressed or expanded since the non-marking frame is free to move inward with the non-marking platen). 
   While a single handle  16  is shown, it will be appreciated that multiple handles could be used, for example, by splitting handle  16  so that “half” a handle would move for either side while the other half a handle would remain still on the “non-marking” side. 
   It will also be appreciated that more than two platens and stamp dies can be attached to a single handle in a wheel type of configuration. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.