Improvements in Rubber Hand Stamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
Improvements in Rubber Hand Stamps.
I, LOUIS KOSSOUTH SCOTFORD, of 225 Market Street, in the City of Chicago and
State of Illinois United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Sponge rubber has been heretofore moulded in the form of rectangular masses
which are interposed between the rubber types of a hand stamp and the rigid support
or platen of the same; such sponge rubber bases serving to yieldingly support the
type and thus permit the latter to adjust themselves to irregularities of the surface
being printed upon or t irregularities of the supporting surface upon which rests the
paper on which the printing is done.
In view of the various sizes of hand stamps used it is either necessary for the
dealer furnishing the stamps to have moulded the rubber bases specially for the
individual hand stamps, or to provide a very large number of sizes from which bases
of the proper size may be selected as needed; either method being objectionable by
reason of the expense involved. A dealer in hand stamps, moreover, who has no
facilities for manufacturing the sponge rubber bases. must necessarily provide himself
with a large number of sizes of the moulded bases, in order to avoid the delay of
having them especially manufactured when needed.
While bases of a particular size may be cut from a large sheet of sponge rubber of
the proper thickness, yet this is objectionable by reason of the fact that the exposed
edges of the bases in such cases would not have a finished appearance but would have
a roughened or cellular surface liable to accumulate ink and dirt, and to present at all
times an unsightly appearance.
In carrying out my invention, I propose to mould a rectangular strip or blank of
proper thickness and suitable width, according to the length of the stamp to be made,
said blank being formed or moulded with transverse groves arranged parallel with
each other and extending nearly through the thickness of the strip, said grooves
partially severing or dividing the strip into many narrow strips or sections of equal
width, one or more of which sections may be severed from the body of the blank by
cutting through the connecting portions which join the sections as by the use of
scissors or knives operating in the groove at which the separation is to take place.
In making a single type base from a blank thus prepared, a piece will be cut from
the end of the blank of the proper width for the type base and including either one,
two or three or other number of sections; it being, of course, understood that the
platen or rigid part of the stamp to which the base is attached will be of a width
suitable to receive the base. The base thus prepared, when secured to the platen or
holder, will bave the types secured thereto without regard to the location of the
separating grooves referred to, which latter perform no function in the finished article,
but merely serve as a means of dividing the type base blank into separate type bases
of desired widths in constructing the stamp. It follows that in applying the types
to the base, the latter may extend across the said grooves and commonly will do so;
the types being arranged without regard to their relations to the grooves.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a type base blank constructel in accordance
with my invention.

page_text: course, understood that the dealer need only to cut from the blank strip a single
section or a plurality of sections, which are divided by the grooves a, as may be
necessary to afford a type base of the required size. As to the length of the type
base, the blank strips may be made of the comparatively few standard sizes necessary,
and when desired for a stamp of extra width, two or more sections cut from the
blank strip may be placed together, end to end, to afford a base of the required
length.
When the holder to which the sponge rubber base is secured is provided with
lateral flanges, as shown, the holders will be provided in several sizes, the widths of
which are equal to that of one individual section of the base strip or blank or
multiples thereof, so that bases severed from the blank will always accurately fit into
a holder of the appropriate size.
It is obviously necessary that the dividing grooves should be formed in the blank
strip by the process of casting or moulding, as by these means only can be obtained
the desired result of a smooth, continuous surface or skin on the side margins of the
sponge rubber base.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
A moulded blank for sponge rubber type hases, comprising an integral strip of
sponge rubber, provided with equidistant, parallel, severing grooves, which are
moulded in the blank and afford smooth or finished surfaces on all edges of the
type bases cut from the said blanks.
Dated this 8th day of February 1897.
LOUIS KOSSOUTH SCOTFORD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.