Improvements in Flexible Handled Hand Stamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Flexible Handled Hand Stamps.
I, RICHARD HALE SMITH, of 293, Main Street, Springfield, in the County of
Hampden, State of Massachusetts, 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:
My invention relates to that class of hand stamps wherein the grip or handle is
flexibly attached to the part which carries the printing die and my object is to
provide a more sensitive adjustment of the printing face to the surface to be
imprinted when pressed or struck upon it at any reasonable angle; to prevent
danger of rebound and insure sharpness and uniformity of impression with a
minimum of noise, jar, or effort on the part of the user; to provide means to regu-
late the degree of flexibility, to produce an interchanging Hexible handle, and to
provide an inexpensive, practical and durable form of construction.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate like
parts,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a metal-mounted rubber hand stamp embodying my
invention, a portion of the figure being broken away to a line on the center, show-
ing the parts in section.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the thimble used in Figure 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of an ordinary wood-mounted rubber
stamp, provided with my improvement.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of a modified form of cushion.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a metal-mounted rubber stamp,
showing my improvement in modified form.
Fig. 6 is an isometrical projection of the inner thimble and Fig. 7 is a like view
of the outer shell of thimble shown in Figure 5.
Fig 8 is a plan view of the cushion used in Figures 5 and 9.
Fig. 9 is a sectional side view of a wood-mounted stamp, showing my improve-
ment in a modified form.
Figs. 10 and 11 are plan views of the two part thrust-plate or diaphragm used.
to sustain the cushion in Fig. 9.
rD...011

page_text: Fig. 12 is a side elevation partly in section of a wood-mounted stamp, showing
a modified form of my invention.
Fig. 13 is a plan view of that part of Figure 12 below the line A-B.
Fig. 14 is a side elevation partly in section of a wood-mounted stamp, showing
my invention in modified form and.
Fig. 15 is a plan view of that portion of Figure 14 below the line A-B.
The construction and operation of my device will be readily understood on refer-
ence to the drawings in which I have shown a handle flexibly attached to the die
carrying part, by means of an engagement which is cushioned both above and below
a thrust-plate which may be of any suitable form, but rigidly attached to either
the die carrying block, or to the handle. The result in either event being the same.
In detail a indicates a die or printing face, b a die carrying part, a retaining
case, da handle, e a stem, f a thrust-plate, g a cushion.
In Fig. 1, I illustrate a construction wherein the thrust-plate in the form of an
annular flange or diaphragm f is made a part of and rigidly attached to the thimble
or ferrule like tubular piece c, and as the part e is rigidly attached to the die
carrying part 6 it will be seen that the thrust-plate f is rigidly attached to the
block through the medium of the part c, a cushion g which may be formed in
one or more pieces, preferably of spongy rubber, is arranged on each side of the
thrust-plate and a stem e (comprising in this instance a screw) passes through the
cushion and is fixed in the handle d. The opening through the thrust-plate f is
of greater diameter than the body of the stem or screw e where it passes through the
plate f, thus allowing the stem to incline from side to side without contact with
the plate as the handle is deflected or changed from its normal position.
The stem or screw e may be provided with a head of sufficient area, or a washer i
may be inserted between the head and lower face of the cushion of sufficient size
to properly compress the cushion, but not large enough to strike the thimble even
when most deflected. The thimble or tubular part c may be attached to the carry-
ing block in any convenient manner, either by an internal or external threaded
connection or by being driven or forced over a boss or projection or into an open-
ing in either of which cases should fit with sufficient tightness to become firmly
fastened when forced into place. It will be observed also that in this construction.
the thimble c forms a retaining case from the resilient cushion by which means
valuable lateral as well as vertical compression of the cushion is utilized.
It will now be seen that as the stamp is used, in the act of forming the imprint, it
not being always possible to bring down the die upon the surface to be imprinted,
in a plane parallel with such surface, that one edge of the stamp will first come in
contact with such surface and the downward pressure upon the handle will cause
a deflection in the connection between the handle and the thrust plate f, thus allow-
ing the die carrying block to be tilted until the face comes squarely down upon the
surface regardless of whether the handle is at that time at a true right angle with
the surface or not, thus giving an imprint of uniform appearance throughout.
In Fig. 3 I illustrate a like construction, excepting that in this figure I show the
thimble or tubular part formed of greater strength and it is set into the die carry-
ing block instead of on to it as illustrated in Figure 1, and the part e being by
preference also interiorly threaded so that it may be united with a boss on a metal
mount plate having a suitable exterior thread similar to the plate b shown in
Figure 1. The tubular part e may be constructed in various ways and in Figure 1,.
I have illustrated it as formed of a cartridge drawn tube or shell having an annular
ring f crimped in and closed together. This being a very inexpensive means of
constructing this portion of the device. As illustrating another form of con-
struction, I have shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 this portion of the device formed of
three parts.
An exterior plain tubular part and an interior part formed of two pieces j. The
two together forming a shell with the inner annular flange f forming the thrust-
plate. The parts fit snugly within the exterior part e and when so combined,
with the cushion inserted, the lower end is forced over a boss or into a suitable

page_text: opening which tends to further bind the side walls of the parts together and forms
a practically integral part. This construction is adapted to a cushion formed in
one piece having its upper and lower parts connected by a neck as shown in Figs. 5,
8, and 9.
As another modification of the construction of the thrust-plate I illustrate in
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 a construction wherein a recess is formed in the die carrying
block and two thin plates fi are arranged to insert from opposite sides into an,
annular groove in the cushion and set one over the other and engage the cushion
as shown in Fig. 9. It will readily be seen, of course, that the part fl may, if
preferred, be formed of a single piece with the central opening, if the cushion be
formed of two or more parts, a portion being arranged above and a portion below
the plate, that the result will be the same. It will also be seen that the shape of
the plate or plates may be varied. As another modification. I have shown in
Figs. 12 and 13 a construction wherein the thrust-plate in engagement with the
cushion is rigidly attached to the handle by a stem instead of to the die carrying
block as before described, and in these figures I show a recessed type carrying
block having a cushion g mounted therein, the plate f, being moulded and vulcan-
ized within the center of a rubber cushion; the opening in the die carrying block
above the cushion being sufficiently large to allow of the requisite play of the stem
and in Figures 14 and 15, I illustrate a like construction, avoiding, however, the
forming of a recess in the block and mount the cushion above the block, it being
held in position by the employment of an overhanging cup-shaped case suitably
fixed to the block. The part is by preference struck up from sheet metal and as
before described a portion of the cushion is above and a portion below the plate f
the two parts being moulded to fit the plate and prevent displacement, or it may be
vulcanized in one piece, encasing the plate as shown in Fig. 13 with the addition
of being also vulcanized into the metallic retaining case adhering firmly to the
inner surface.
It now becomes evident that any flexure of handle toward the right must cause
a simultaneous and substantially equal compression of the resilient cushion upon
each side of the plate with which the cushion is in engagement. When this plate
is in the form of a diaphragm as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 9 that part of the
cushion lying on the upper side of the diaphragm or plate will be compressed to-
wards the right edge and the portion of the cushion below will be compressed
towards the left.
When the plate is in the form of a disc as shown in Figs. 12 and 14 the reverse
of this is true, although the result is the same and accomplished in the same
manner. When the printing face is released from contact with the surface to be
imprinted the resiliency of the cushion causes the stamp head to resume its normal
position at right angles to the handle. It will also be observed that with the con-
struction illustrated there are no metals that clash and that friction sudden shock
and noise are avoided as all the shifting parts are cushioned. A metal spring
cushion may be substituted for the rubber cushion and a very serviceable device
be made. I prefer, however, to employ rubber. I provide means for the user to
easily regulate the degree of flexibility thereby adapting the same flexible handle to
a large or small die block, a heavy or light faced printing die or when the cushion
has become shrunken after long use, by readjusting the tension upon the cushion.
As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 5 the construction of the stem is in the form of a
screw, which upon being set up compresses the cushion more closely against each
side of the plate thereby decreasing the flexibility. In Figure 9 I illustrate a
modification in the construction of the compressing or adjusting mechanism, which
consists of a thimble or ferrule m interiorly threaded and mounted upon the threaded
end of the handle and as will readily be seen if the ferrule m is turned in one
direction its lower face presses against the cushion g, thus carrying the handle and
its stem o upwardly and compressing the cushion above or between the head of
the stem and the lower face of the ferrule m and upon both sides of the plate. It

page_text: will, of course, be readily seen that the threaded engagement may be between the
stem to the ferrule or a collar m as well as between the handle and the collar.
Another advantage growing out of the construction of my device is found in the
fact that when constructed as described the handles are interchangeable and may
be attached to either wood or metal mounts, regardless of the size of the mounts,
thus avoiding the necessity heretofore existing of dealers carrying a large stock
of all sizes, thus reducing the expense of manufacture and cost to the consumer.
I am aware that for twenty years or more two classes of hand stamps with
flexibly attached handles have been in common use. In one of these the con-
nection was made by means of a loosely pinned shank within a spiral spring, and
in the other by a section of rubber rod, one end of which was firmly secured to
the handle and the other end to the stamp head forming a rubber neck, and I do
not seek to claim anything common to either of these devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. In a printing stamp the hereinbefore described improved method of flexibly
connecting the handle to the die carrying head by means of a thrust-plate secured
between resilient cushions.
2nd. In a printing stamp the combination of the die carrier b, retaining case c,
thrust-plate f, cushion g, steam e and handle d for the purpose described.
3rd. In a hand stamp, a die carrier, a handle a thrust-plate attached to one and
a cushion attached to the other, and arranged to engage both sides of the thrust-
plate, whereby the handle and die carrier are flexibly secured together.
4th. In a printing stamp a plate rigidly secured to a die carrier, a yielding
cushion secured to both sides of the plate and a handle secured to the cushion.
5th. In a hand stamp, a die carrier, a handle a thrust-plate attached to one, and
a cushion attached to the other, and arranged to engage both sides of the thrust-
plate, and means to compress the cushion."
6th. In a hand stamp, a handle, a die carrier, a cushion and connecting means
for securing the parts together arranged to engage the cushion between its upper
and lower faces, and through the center of the cushion.
7th. In a hand stamp, a handle, a die carrier, a shell, a projection therein a
cushion engaging the projection, the shell attached to one part and the cushion
attached to the other.
Dated this 9th day of Santambor 1898