Abstract
A fixing device for a self-inking stamp includes a stop for a contact surface of a housing of the self-inking stamp and a latching element connected to the stop, wherein a front face of the latching element is designed for latching on an inner face of an operating part of the self-inking stamp. The latching element is also designed to rest, with a rear face of the latching element opposite the inner face of the operating part, on the housing of the self-inking stamp fixed using the fixing device. Also, a stamp device, includes the fixing device and a self-inking stamp having an operating part, a housing and an imprinting unit, wherein the self-inking stamp is fixed using the fixing device.
Claims
1. A fixing device (1) for a self-inking stamp (3), wherein the fixing device (1) comprises a stop for a contact surface (13) of a housing (14) of the self-inking stamp (3) and a latching element (7) connected to the stop, wherein a front face (9) of the latching element (7) is designed for latching on an inner face of an operating part (12) of the self-inking stamp (3), wherein the latching element (7) is also designed to rest, with a rear face (8) of the latching element (7) opposite the inner face of the operating part (12), on the housing (14) of the self-inking stamp (3) fixed using the fixing device (1).
2. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the latching element (7) comprises a latching hook (10).
3. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rear face (8) of the latching element (7) comprises a support element (19), in particular a support rib.
4. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the stop of the fixing device (1) is configured as a covering surface (2) for covering the contact surface (13) of the housing (14) of the self-inking stamp (3).
5. The fixing device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the covering surface (2) is provided for covering a substantially trapezoidal, in particular rectangular, contact surface (13) of the housing (14) of the self-inking stamp (1).
6. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device (1) comprises side walls (4) which are designed to terminate flush with side walls of the operating part (12) of the self-inking stamp (3) fixed using the fixing device (1).
7. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device (1) comprises two opposing latching elements (7) with rear faces (8) facing each other.
8. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein an operating element (5) is provided between the stop of the fixing device for the contact surface (13) of the housing (14) of the self-inking stamp (3) and the latching element (12).
9. A stamp device (22) comprising the fixing device (1) according to claim 1 and a self-inking stamp (3) comprising an operating part (12), a housing (14) and an imprinting unit (27), wherein the self-inking stamp (3) is fixed using the fixing device (1).
10. The stamp device (22) according to claim 9, wherein the housing (14) of the self-inking stamp (3) comprises a supporting element (36), in particular a supporting rib, on an outer side, the supporting element (36) resting on a rear face (8) of a latching element (7) of the fixing device (1).
Description
[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to descriptions of figures of preferred embodiments, to which, however, it is not to be limited. It should be noted that the figures or their components are partly illustrated out of scale for better understanding.
[0037] FIG. 1a-d show an embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention for a self-inking stamp, wherein the fixing device is illustrated in elevation view in FIG. 1a, laterally in FIG. 1b, in end view in FIG. 1c and in plan view in FIG. 1d.
[0038] FIG. 2a-d show sectional illustrations of a stamp device, FIG. 2a showing the stamp device in the closed position, FIG. 2b illustrating a detail of FIG. 2a on an enlarged scale, and FIG. 2c-d showing the stamp device in the rest position.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a self-inking stamp from below (i.e. from the side facing the fixing device in the closed position).
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a stamp device, wherein the self-inking stamp is fixed using the fixing device (closed position).
[0041] FIG. 5a-b show the elevation view of a self-inking stamp, the housing of which comprises a support element, wherein various embodiments of the support element are illustrated in FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b.
[0042] FIG. 6a-b show sectional illustrations of a self-inking stamp, the housing of which comprises a support element, wherein various embodiments of the support element are illustrated in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b.
[0043] FIG. 7a-d show a further embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention for a self-inking stamp, wherein the fixing device is illustrated in a sectional illustration of the plan view in FIG. 7a, laterally in FIG. 7b, in a sectional illustration of the end view in FIG. 7c and in plan view in FIG. 7d.
[0044] FIG. 8a-b show sectional illustrations of a further embodiment of a stamp device according to the invention in the closed position (FIG. 8a) and in the rest position (FIG. 8b).
[0045] FIGS. 1a-d show a fixing device 1 with a substantially rectangular, plate-shaped cover surface 2 for covering a substantially rectangular cuboid-shaped self-inking stamp 3. In other geometric embodiments of the self-inking stamp 3, a corresponding adaptation of the geometric dimensions of the fixing device 1 is necessary. The fixing device 1 comprises side walls 4 that protrude in one direction and abut the cover surface 2. The longitudinal side walls 4 are higher than the wide side walls 4. Two mutually opposite operating elements 5, which comprise an operating surface 6, are provided in the middle of the outer sides of the longitudinal side walls 4. The operating surface 6 is designed in the form of a depression and comprises grooves to ensure a secure grip for the fingers and to prevent slipping. Furthermore, the operating surface 6 is provided with an inscription (press), so that it is immediately clear at which point of the fixing device 1 the pressure must be applied to release the latch. On the outer sides of the two longitudinal side walls 4, two mutually opposite latching elements 7 are provided, the rear faces 8 of which are arranged parallel to one another. On their front face 9, these latching elements 7 each comprise an outwardly directed latching hook 10 for hooking into a latching nose 11 of an operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3. Both operating elements 5 are arranged between an exposed section of the latching elements 7 and the cover surface 2 in the upper area of the outer sides of the two longitudinal side walls 4.
[0046] As can also be seen from FIG. 1a-d, four support elements 15 are arranged on the side of the cover surface 2 facing the self-inking stamp 3 in the closed position for placing a contact surface 13 of a housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3. The support elements 15 extend in the direction of the side walls 4 of the fixing device 1, wherein they have a lower height than the side walls 4, so that there is no obstruction to the fixing of the self-inking stamp 3 using the fixing device 1. The provision of the supporting elements 15 ensures a distance between the cover surface 2 and the contact surface 13 of the housing 14, so that scratching of the stamp plate 16 and soiling of the cover surface 2 by stamp ink adhering to the stamp plate 16 are prevented.
[0047] The side of the cover surface 2 facing the self-inking stamp 3 in the closed position comprises four guide elements 17, which are provided outside a contact surface 13 of the housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3, as can also be seen from FIG. 1a-d. The guide elements 17 end flush with the side walls 4 of the fixing device 1, being higher than the height of the immediately adjacent side walls 4 in each case, so that the fixing of the self-inking stamp 3 using the fixing device 1 is not prevented and the guide elements 17 can be accommodated in corresponding recesses 18 of the operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3. The cross-sectional surface of the guide elements 17 is rectangular and decreases with increasing distance from the covering surface 2. Accordingly, the guide elements 17 are chamfered, with the chamfered surfaces of two guide elements 17 each facing one another. This simplifies the positioning and placement of the contact surface 13 of the housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3 on the support elements 15 of the fixing device 1.
[0048] On the longitudinal side walls 4 of the fixing device 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1b, two mutually opposite supporting ribs 19 are provided on the inner faces, which are arranged normal to the covering surface 2 and extend substantially over the entire height of the side walls 4. By providing the supporting ribs 19, the contact surface between the rear face of the latching element 7 and the outer side of the housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3 is reduced. Instead of a planar contact surface, there is a linear contact surface, which reduces the frictional force and leads to easier removal of the fixing device 1 from the self-inking stamp 3.
[0049] As can also be seen from FIGS. 1a-d, the fixing device 1 is formed in one piece as an injection-moulded part, the filling of the cavity being carried out through the injection point 20, which is provided in the centre of the covering surface 2. This ensures uniform filling of the cavity. Ejection is carried out using four ejector pins arranged in the corner areas of the cover surface 2. Injection-moulded fixing device 1 is of high quality, distortion-free and free of internal stresses. The underside of the covering surface 2 comprises four feet 21 in the corner areas, which ensures stable positioning on a substrate.
[0050] In FIG. 2a, a stamp device 22 comprising an embodiment of the fixing device 1 according to the invention and a self-inking stamp 3 is shown in the closed position, and in FIG. 2c-d in the rest position. FIG. 2b shows an enlarged detail 23 of FIG. 2a. In the interior of the longitudinal side surfaces of the operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3, two mutually opposite free spaces 24 are formed, which comprise a latching nose 11, in which the latching elements 7 of the fixing device 1, which are provided with latching hooks 10, latch in the closed position. In this case, the operating part 12 is curved slightly outward in the area of the free space 24, so that the free space 24 is formed only in the area of the curvature. As a result, the fixing device 1 can only be pushed onto the housing 14 of the unloaded self-inking stamp 3 in a certain position, so that an optimal closing effect is ensured. The housing 14 is pressed into the operating part 12 by a compressive force applied to the operating part 12, while the fixing device 1 is pushed onto the housing 14 in the direction of the operating part 12. The latching elements 7 of the fixing device 1 latch with their latching hooks 10 into the corresponding latching noses 11 of the operating part 12, which are provided in the free spaces 24. Through the positive connection, the self-inking stamp 3 is fixed using the fixing device 1 in the closed position, as can be seen from FIG. 2a. In the closed position, the pressing force between the fixing device 1 and the self-inking stamp 3, in particular the contact surface 13 of the housing 14, is increased by the acting return force of the return spring 25, which is provided in the upper area of the operating part 12.
[0051] As illustrated on an enlarged scale in Fig. 2b, the front face 9 of the latching element 7 rests against the inner face of the operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3 in the closed position. In addition, the rear face 8 of the latching element 7 rests against the outer side of the housing 14. Accordingly, no free space is provided between the rear face 8 of the latching element 7 and the housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3, in which the latching element 7 could possibly escape when pressurized or softened by an increase in temperature if it can no longer withstand the return force of the return spring 25. The locking capability of the fixing device 1 according to the invention is considerably improved by forming two contact surfaces of the latching element 7, i.e. its front face 9 and rear face 8, with the operating part 12 and with the housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3.
[0052] To release the latch, the user presses the two opposing operating elements 5, which are arranged on the longitudinal side walls 4 of the fixing device 1, together. As a result, the side walls 4 of the fixing device 1, on which the operating elements 5 and latching elements 7 are arranged, are pressed inwards, and the latching of the latching elements 7 with the operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3 is released. This allows the fixing device 1 to be subsequently removed in a forceless manner in a displacement direction 26 in order to make the stamp device 22 ready for use.
[0053] As can also be seen from FIGS. 2a-d, an imprinting unit 27 is arranged in the operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3, which is made of a plastic, for example of polyoxymethylene (POM), since this thermoplastic is characterised by high strength, hardness and stiffness and withstands shock loads well, such as those that occur when fixing the self-inking stamp 3 using the fixing device 1 or during the printing process. Mounted on the imprinting unit 27 is a stamp plate 16, which, in the rest position of the self-inking stamp 3, rests against a stamp pad 28, which is impregnated with stamp ink and is provided in a pad container 29. The side of the stamp plate 16 used for a stamp imprint is oriented upward, i.e. on the side opposite the fixing device 1 in the closed position. The imprinting unit 27 is displaceably mounted with pin-shaped axle parts 30 in guide grooves 31, which are provided in the wide side surfaces of the housing 14. To produce a stamp imprint, the imprinting unit 27 with the stamp plate 16 is moved into the printing position via a turning mechanism 32. The stamp plate 16 is rotated by 180 by the downward movement of the operating part 12, so that the side of the stamp plate 16 used for a stamp imprint faces downward in the printing position and can produce a stamp imprint.
[0054] FIG. 3 shows the self-inking stamp 3 from below (i.e. from the side facing the fixing device 1 in the closed position). Accordingly, the side of the imprinting unit 27 opposite the stamp plate 16 can be seen. The contact surface 13 of the housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3 is partially provided with a sprayed-on rubber layer 33. This rubber layer 33 is provided on the wide side sections and partially on the longitudinal sections of the contact surface 13 of the housing 14. It prevents the self-inking stamp 3 from slipping when producing a stamp imprint.
[0055] Four recesses 18 can also be seen in FIG. 3, which are provided on the side of the operating part 12 facing the fixing device 1. These recesses 18 are designed in the form of guide strips, which are provided parallel to the guide grooves 31 for uniform guidance of the housing 14 in the operating part 12 of the self-inking stamp 3. This ensures that the housing 14 does not rotate with respect to the operating part 12 during the displacement, but only a linear movement in or against the displacement direction 26 is possible. Furthermore, the guide elements 17 of the fixing device 1 are accommodated in the recesses 18, as a result of which displacement and/or rotation of the fixing device 1 relative to the self-inking stamp 3 is prevented or at least reduced, thereby further improving the locking capability of the fixing device 1.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows the stamp device 22 according to FIG. 2a-d comprising the fixing device 1 and the self-inking stamp 3 in a lateral view in the closed position. A locking or blocking element 34 embodied in the form of a button is provided on the wide side surfaces of the operating part 12. By locking the self-inking stamp 3, it can be fixed in the printing position without the need for fixing using the fixing device 1. In this case, projections 35 of the locking element 34, which protrude into the interior of the housing 14 (as can be seen from FIG. 2d), are used to fix the housing 14, so that the return spring 25 remains in the compressed position. Unintentional release of the imprinting unit 27 is thus impossible when properly locked, and simple replacement of the stamp plate 16 is made possible.
[0057] FIG. 5a-b shows the elevation view of two further self-inking stamps 3 in the unloaded position. Both longitudinal side surfaces of the housing 14 each comprise a support element 36 in the form of an elongated support rib (FIG. 5a) or in the form of a circle (FIG. 5b). These support elements 36 can be provided instead of the support ribs 19 of the fixing device 1. Each of the support elements 36 is positioned such that, in the closed position, it rests against the rear face 8 of a latching element 7 of the fixing device 1. As a result, the contact surface between the latching element 7 and the housing 14 is reduced and a linear or punctiform contact surface is formed, so that the removal of the fixing device 1 from the self-inking stamp 3 is considerably simplified by the reduced frictional force.
[0058] FIGS. 6a-b show sectional illustrations of the embodiments of the self-inking stamp illustrated in FIGS. 5a-b. The embodiment of the support element 36 shown in FIG. 5a in the form of an elongated support rib in FIG. 6a and the embodiment of the support element 36 shown in FIG. 5b in the form of a circle in FIG. 6b are each illustrated in a lateral view.
[0059] FIGS. 7a-d show a fixing device 1 similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a-d. The difference is that instead of supporting ribs 19, the fixing device 1 of FIGS. 7a-d comprises two opposing rollers 37. These rollers 37 are each arranged at the lower end of two mutually opposite latching elements 7, i.e. below exposed sections of the latching elements 7. An axis of rotation of the roller 37 is normal to a removal direction 26 of the fixing device 1 from a self-inking stamp 3, so that the removal can be carried out by a roller movement and scratching of a housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3 can be prevented.
[0060] A stamp device 22 is illustrated in FIGS. 8a-b in the closed position (FIG. 8a) and in the rest position (FIG. 8b). This is similar to the stamp device 22 of FIGS. 2a-d, but it comprises rollers 37 on the rear sides of two latching elements 7 of the fixing device 1. The rollers 37 are arranged below exposed sections of both latching element 7 (as also illustrated in FIGS. 7a-d). Only a linear contact of the fixing device 1 with a self-inking stamp 3 takes place, namely between a height of the cylindrical rollers 37 and an outer side of a housing 14 of the self-inking stamp 3, which simplifies the removal. This results in the formation of a free space 38 between a section of the rear face of the latching element 7 or an inner face of a longitudinal side wall 4 of the fixing device 1 and the outer side of the housing 14. However, due to the high stiffness of the rollers 37, the latching elements 7 cannot easily and unintentionally come loose on their own due to the application of pressure and the associated deformation of the respective exposed sections of the latching elements 7.
