Strategic Alignment Marker Grouped Stamps

Abstract

The invention comprises an assortment of group stamp plates. The group stamp plates contain numerous stamps to overlay ink in subsequent layering to produce thematically related images, such as rose and its foliage. The group stamp plate also contain numerous alignment markers to assist the artisan to properly position subsequent group stamp plates to precisely layer additional layers of ink.

Claims

1. A means for producing a thematically connected image on a greeting card, comprising: a group stamping plate series comprising at least two photopolymer plastic stamping plates wherein all stamping plates of said photopolymer plastic stamping plate series have at least one alignment marker common to all stamping plates of said photopolymer plastic stamping plate series and said alignment marker is outside the desired image; Applying ink to first photopolymer plastic stamping plate; Pressing said ink onto a piece of paper to produce an ink pattern on said piece of paper comprising a design and at least one ink alignment marker on said piece of paper; Applying ink to a second stamping plate from said group stamping plate series; and By keeping said paper stationary, visually aligning said alignment marker on the second stamping plate with said alignment marker on said alignment marker on said piece of paper.

2. (canceled)

3. The group stamping plate series of claim 1 where the alignment marker is a rectangle.

4. The group stamping plate series of claim 1 where the thematically connected image is a flower.

5. The group stamping plate series of claim 1 containing between 2-20 alignment markers.

6. The group stamping plate series of claim 1 containing between 4-6 alignment markers.

7. A kit comprising: (a) at least one group stamping plate series wherein said group stamping plate series comprises at least two photopolymer plastic stamping plates wherein all stamping plates of said photopolymer plastic stamping plate series have at least one alignment marker common to all stamping plates of said photopolymer plastic stamping plate series and said alignment marker is outside the desired image; (b) at least one light-tone pink ink, (c) at least one medium-tone pink ink, (d) at least one dark-tone pink ink, and (e) at least one piece of paper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 depicts a first level group stamp of a first floral design according to the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 depicts a second level group stamp of a first floral design according to the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts a third level group stamp of a first floral design according to the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 4 depicts a fourth level group stamp of a first floral design according to the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 5 depicts a fifth level group stamp of a first floral design according to the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 6 depicts a completed first floral design according to the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 7 depicts a first level group stamp of a second floral design according to the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 8 depicts a second level group stamp of a second floral design according to the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 9 depicts a third level group stamp of a second floral design according to the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 10 depicts a fourth level group stamp of a second floral design according to the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 11 depicts a fifth level group stamp of a second floral design according to the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 12 depicts a sixth level group stamp of a second floral design according to the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 13 depicts a completed second floral design according to the present invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] The present invention solves a number of problems of the prior art. The present invention revolutionizes the field of artisan layering stamps. It removes the guesswork of lining up each layer in subsequent stamps. Further, it saves the artisan an enormous amount of time by stamping each cluster layer all in one series.

[0049] Group Stamping

[0050] The invention utilizes group stamping of thematically connected images to facilitate the speed that an artisan can create the desired stamps.

[0051] As used herein, the term “group stamping” refers to at least 2 stamps contained within a solid rectangular plate. The plate is then mounted on a commercially available stamp press. In a preferred embodiment, between 2-20 stamps are contained within the same rectangular stamp plate.

[0052] As used herein, the term “thematically connected images” refers to the ability of the final images to be utilized together in a cohesive image. Put another way, the individual images are individual parts of a cohesive whole.

[0053] By way of example, thematically connected images for group stamping to create a rose would include individual stamps for the flower petals and foliage patterns. In a preferred embodiment, the same group stamping plate would include the flower petals and the foliage pattern.

[0054] As used herein, the term “group stamping plate series” refers to at least 2 stamp plates that are used in a consecutive manner to apply layers of ink upon one another. In a preferred embodiment, there are between 3-6 stamp plates in a group stamping plate series.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the number and position of stamps within the group stamping plate series is designed to provide consecutive layers of ink to create textures and depth in the overall design pattern.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the first layer stamp has little detail and its placement with ink produces a solid (i.e., base) layer. In a preferred embodiment, the subsequent stamps in a group stamping plate series have more detail than their predecessor stamps in the same group stamping plate series.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, a lightest colored ink is used on the first stamp layer and darker colored inks are used in the subsequent stamp layers.

[0058] By way of example for the creation of a 3-layer rose, the first layer is stamped in a light pink ink. The second layer stamp has more detail in it and is stamped in a mid-tone pink ink. The third layer has even more detail to it and is stamped in a dark pink ink to accentuate the proper shading of the image.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, the stamp plate is made of a translucent substances such as a photopolymer plastic.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the final images of the group stamping plate series are separated from one another using a coordinating die.

[0061] Alignment Markers

[0062] The present invention utilizes the strategic placement of alignment markers in the overall design of layering clear stamps to aid in the process of aligning each group stamping plate. This enables the creation of completed layered images. This eliminates stamping errors with individually layered stamps for clear stamp pages.

[0063] As used herein, the phrase “alignment marker” is an area in the group stamping plate series with a common portion between at least two plates in the group stamping plate series.

[0064] Such alignment markers could include such patterns as circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and the like.

[0065] The more alignment markers, the easier it is for the artisan to properly align the stamp on the prior images. In a preferred embodiment, each stamping plate has between 2-10 alignment markers. In preferentially preferred embodiment, each stamping plate has between 4-6 alignment markers.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment, the artisan puts ink on all the stamp images of the group stamping plate as well as all of the alignment markers.

Example 1

[0067] Reference is made to FIGS. 1-6.

[0068] FIG. 1 depicts the first level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a first floral design according to the present invention. Five strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A.

[0069] FIG. 2 depicts the second level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a first floral design according to the present invention. Five strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, and 5B.

[0070] FIG. 3 depicts the third level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a first floral design according to the present invention. Five strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C, and 5C.

[0071] FIG. 4 depicts the fourth level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a first floral design according to the present invention. Five strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, and 5D.

[0072] FIG. 5 depicts the fifth level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a first floral design according to the present invention. Three strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 3E, 4E, and 5E.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, the various levels of the group stamping plate series are aligned with the respective alignment marker. For example, alignment markers 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are all aligned together throughout the full stamp press sequence. In likewise manner, alignment markers 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are all aligned together throughout the full stamp press sequence. In likewise manner, alignment markers 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E are all aligned together throughout the full stamp press sequence. In likewise manner, alignment markers 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E are all aligned together throughout the full stamp press sequence. In likewise manner, alignment markers 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E are all aligned together throughout the full stamp press sequence.

[0074] If all five alignment markers are properly positioned during the course of full pressing the entire group stamping plate series, then properly layered images are produced. This is depicted in FIG. 6, which depicts a completed first floral design according to the present invention. The images of the respective alignment markers are also visible in the fully stamped floral design. These are displayed in FIG. 6 as 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F, and 5F.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the completed images of FIG. 6 are cut apart with a coordinating die to separate the floral and foliage images from one another for further use by the artisan. In a preferred embodiment, the printed alignment marker images are then discarded.

[0076] This embodiment of complete set layering takes about ten minutes to stamp the entire group stamping plate series. Individually stamping similarly sized florals and leaves would take an artisan 30-40 minutes (or longer) depending on the artisan's stamping abilities and experience.

Example 2

[0077] Reference is made to FIGS. 7-13.

[0078] FIG. 7 depicts the first level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a second floral design according to the present invention. Two strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 6A and 8A.

[0079] FIG. 8 depicts the second level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a second floral design according to the present invention. Three strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 6B, 7B, and 8B.

[0080] FIG. 9 depicts the third level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a second floral design according to the present invention. Three strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 6C, 7C, and 8C.

[0081] FIG. 10 depicts the fourth level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a second floral design according to the present invention. Six strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 6D, 7D, 8D, 9D, 10D, and 11D.

[0082] FIG. 11 depicts the fifth level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a second floral design according to the present invention. Five strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 7E, 8E, 9E, 10E, and 11E.

[0083] FIG. 12 depicts the sixth level stamp of a group stamping plate series for a second floral design according to the present invention. Five strategically placed alignment markers are identified. These are 7F, 8F, 9F, 10F, and 11F,

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, the various levels of the group stamping plate series are aligned with the respective alignment markers. For example, alignment markers 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are all aligned together throughout the entire group stamping plate series. In likewise manner, alignment markers 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, and 7F are all aligned together throughout the entire group stamping plate series. In likewise manner, alignment markers 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, and 8F are all aligned together throughout the entire group stamping plate series. In likewise manner, alignment markers 9D, 9E, and 9F are all aligned together throughout the entire group stamping plate series. In likewise manner, alignment markers 10D, 10E, and 10F are all aligned together throughout the entire group stamping plate series. In likewise manner, alignment markers 11D, 11E, and 11F are all aligned together throughout the entire group stamping plate series.

[0085] If all six alignment markers are properly positioned during the entire group stamping plate series; then properly layered images are produced. These are depicted in FIG. 13, which depicts a completed second floral design according to the present invention. The images of the respective alignment markers are also visible in the fully stamped floral design. These are displayed in FIG. 6 as 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F, and 5F.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the completed images of FIG. 13 are cut apart with a coordinating die to separate the floral images from one another for further use by the artisan. In a preferred embodiment, the printed alignment block images are then discarded.

[0087] Kid

[0088] The invention also comprises a kit of the components of the strategic alignment marker grouped stamps.

[0089] The kits can be selected from the group of items described above.

[0090] The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

[0091] As will be appreciated, the foregoing objects and examples are exemplary and embodiments need not meet all or any of the foregoing objects, and need not include all or any of the exemplary features described herein. Additional aspects and embodiments within the scope of the claims will be devised by those having skill in the art based on the teachings set forth herein.

[0092] While the invention has been described in connection with what are considered to be exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.