Abstract:
An ink dispenser includes a lower case having a cavity whereat a ceramic imprint ink dispensing plate is releasably retained by flexible tabs and including provisions for mechanically, frictionally and magnetically mounting the case on a variety of mounting surfaces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to imprinting apparatus, and, in particular, to a ceramic ink pad dispenser providing improved assembly, mounting and imprinting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Stamp pad ink dispensers are employed for a variety of purposes wherein an object is pressed against an ink carry or dispensing surface and thereafter registered with an ink receiving surface. The situations requiring the procedure may vary from fixed locations to mobile and transient sites. Accordingly, a variety of dispensers have been developed for addressing the multiplicity of conditions. 
     Porous plate dispensers are now available wherein a finely pored substrate draws ink by capillary action upwardly from a foam dispenser pad to the imprinting surface. The imprinting plates are typically finely pored ceramics. 
     The ceramic plates and foam pads of the above type are generally serially assembled to the base of the dispenser case and each other with double sided adhesive tape. Considerable time and skills are required to ensure intimate contact at the interfaces to avoid gaps or wrinkles that would impair uniform ink transfer. Moreover, under ordinary usage and handling, the ceramic plates may separate from the underlying ink reservoir pad thereby also lessening the uniformity of the ink on the imprinting surface. Inasmuch as the separation is not readily repairable, the unit must be replaced in its entirety. 
     For field use, pocket carried cases are commonly used. For desk or other permanent locations, brackets are used to fixedly mount the applicator pad and case. For mobile applications, smaller cases and pads are preferred. The resultant variety of dispensers, sizes and mounting techniques result in a multitude of designs, even within a single organization and often at a compromise to the underlying task, i.e. reliably contemporaneously providing ink transfer for transfer in a quality format. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a ceramic ink pad dispenser having a ceramic plate and compressible ink reservoir that may be readily assembled in a case and releasably compressively retained by flexible detent tabs. In addition to facilitating assembly, the tabs permit removal of the plate and pad for replacement as required. The dispenser base is provided with plural modes for operatively deposing the dispenser at common permanent and transient sites. First, the base includes fastener holes for allowing fixed attachment of the case at a permanent site. The lower surface of the base provides located attachments of magnetic strips and slip resistant pads allowing the case to be used on a variety of transiently available surfaces. All mounting modes are within the confines of a typical pocket envelope, providing convenient carrying to remote and mobile sites, thereby allowing a single design to be utilized for the preponderance of investigative occurrences. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an imprint ink dispenser having a readily assembled and replaceable porous imprinting substrate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a ceramic ink dispensing pad that is uniformly compressively interfaced with a reservoir pad to provide uniform transfer of ink to the imprinting surface. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an imprint case that may be deployed in a plurality of mounting modes. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an imprinting pad and case that permits permanent and releasable mounting. 
     A further object is to provide a single format imprinting pad and case that may be mechanically, magnetically, adhesively or frictionally mounted on a working surface for securing imprints. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a multiple mount ink pad dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded top perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 separately showing the base and lid; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned top perspective view of the dispenser illustrating the interior print pad and ink dispenser; 
     FIG. 5 is a center cross sectional view of the dispenser, 
     FIG. 6A is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the deflection of the retaining: tabs prior to insertion pad assembly in the base; and 
     FIG. 6B is an enlarged fragmentary cross section view of the assembled dispenser. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment and not for limiting same, FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a ceramic imprint pad ink dispenser  10  comprising a base  12  and a removable lid  14 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base  12  carries a ceramic dispenser pad assembly  16  including a ceramic dispenser pad  18  releasably compressively overlying a foam ink reservoir pad  20  housed in a center upwardly opening dispenser cavity  22  formed in the base  12 . 
     The base  12  is a one-piece plastic molding, preferably formed of a copolymer polypropylene. The base  12  includes a peripheral outer rim  30  having an outer surface including a lower leg  32  and an upper arm  34  located inwardly of the leg  32  and integrally interconnected therewith at a peripheral horizontal ledge  36 . The inner surfaces of the outer rim  30  are connected at the lower end with a horizontal, generally rectangular base plate  40 , with such inner surfaces and the top surface of the base plate  40  establishing the cavity  22 . The longitudinal inner surfaces of the rim  30  are provided with inwardly projecting, longitudinally extending stop ledges  41 . 
     The outer rim  30  includes inwardly extending transverse shoulders  42  at the lateral inner surfaces that inwardly terminate with a downwardly extending inner wall  44  merging with the base plate  40 . A pair of laterally spaced vertical dividing walls  50  extend upwardly from the base plate  40  and transversely between the longitudinal inner surfaces of the rim  30 . Each dividing wall  50  includes an upper deflectable mounting tab  52 . Each mounting tab  52  upwardly terminates with an inwardly projecting, transversely extending retaining lip  54 , generally triangular in cross section. The inner surfaces of the dividing walls  50  and the inner surfaces of the rim  30  establish an upwardly opening ink reservoir  51  having length substantially the same as the dispenser pad assembly  16  and a width slightly smaller than the dispenser pad  16 . As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the vertical distance between the base plate  40  and the retaining lip  54  is less than the free height thickness of the dispenser pad assembly  16  whereby in assembly condition the pad assembly is compressively retained thereby establishing continuous intimate contact between the interfacing surfaces of the pad  18  and pad  20 . The height of the ledge  41  above the base plate  40  is slightly less than the uncompressed thickness of the reservoir pad  20 , whereby in assembly the dispenser pad engages the stop ledges  41  to relatively fixedly retain the dispenser pad and avoid movement thereof during imprinting while ensuring sufficient compression of the reservoir pad to maintain continuous interfacial contact. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, for assembly, the reservoir pad  20  is placed freely on the bottom plate  40  within the reservoir, and preferably impregnated with a suitable conventional imprinting ink. Then the dispenser pad  18  is centered over the deflectable tabs  52  and pressed downwardly thereby resiliently outwardly deflecting the tabs  52 . After the pad  18  passes downwardly over,the lips  54  and the lower surface engage the stop ledges  41 , the tabs  52  resiliently return to the normal position with the lower surfaces of the lips  54  engaging the lateral edges of the top surface of the dispenser pad to lock compressive the pad assembly in assembled condition. Thus the dispenser pad  16  lightly compresses the reservoir pad  18  to establish intimate contact therewith and ensure a uniform absorption of the ink within the dispenser pad  16  thereby providing uniform ink transfer during imprint usage. 
     The foregoing retention of the dispenser pad assembly uses only a small portion of the dispenser working surface and does not restrict or interfere with imprinting operations. Additionally, the outer rim includes scalloped central longitudinal recessed wall sections  56  (FIGS. 3 and 4) thereby locating the upper imprinting surface thereabove thus providing additional freedom of movement in obtaining prints. 
     If the pad assembly or components thereof need to be removed, for repair and/or replacement, the assembly procedure is reversed and the outward deflection of the tabs  52  will enable selective removal of the dispenser pad  18  and reservoir pad  20 . 
     The lid  14  is a one piece plastic molding, preferably a polypropylene copolymer, and comprises a generally rectangular top wall  60  peripherally surrounded by a downwardly skirt  62  having an inner surface configured to sealingly engage the outer surface of the top leg  34  of the outer rim  30  thereby sealing the ink reservoir to limit loss of contents. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the inner corners of the outer rim  16  at the shoulders  42  are provided with sockets  70 . The base of each socket merges with a downwardly extending sleeve  74 . The sleeves  74  include vertical holes  76  that receive threaded fasteners  78  for the mechanical attachment of the base to the top surface of a mounting substrate  80  (FIGS.  6 A and  6 B). The lower surface of the base plate  44  is provided with raised circular rings  84  adjacent the corners thereof that receive adhesive backed circular pads  86  having high friction lower surfaces for providing non-slip usage of flat surfaces. Inwardly of the rings  84  a pair of laterally spaced raised rectangular rims  87  are formed in the lower surface of the base plate  40  for receiving adhesive backed magnetic strips  88  for permitting magnetic attachment of the dispenser, for use or storage, on ferromagnetic substrates. 
     In preferred format, the case  10  is about, 6 inches long, 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick, presenting an envelope permitting the case to be transported from site to site, conveniently, in an available pocket or case. For transient site work, the friction and magnetic interfaces permit deployment on a variety of substrates. For stationary use, the mechanical fastening mounting may be employed. Accordingly, rather than relying on a plurality of cases for ordinary use, the present invention provides a single case design useable for all commonly encountered situations within an organization. 
     Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.