Abstract
There is disclosed a stamp pad unit (1), in particular for a self-inking stamp, which comprises two ink pads (2a, 2b) being arranged within a frame (3), abutting against opposing surfaces (4a, 4b) of a separating plate (5) and being separated thereby from each other, wherein the frame (3) consists of two separate frame parts (3a, 3b) which are connected with each other and within which the ink pads (2a, 2b) are accommodated, wherein at least one frame part (3a, 3b), preferably each of the frame parts (3a, 3b), comprises at least one inwardly directed retaining projection (6a, 6b) engaged with an ink pad (2a, 2b) for holding the ink pad (2a, 2b).
Claims
1. A stamp pad unit comprising: two ink pads; a separating plate; and a frame with two opposite open sides and with a circumferential, self-contained side wall extending between the two open sides, which side wall comprises two opposite circumferential edges, each of the edges delimiting one of the two open sides; wherein the separating plate is arranged between the two ink pads and separates the ink pads from each other; wherein the separating plate and the two ink pads are accommodated releasably within the frame such that the frame surrounds the two ink pads and the separating plate circumferentially and each ink pad is exposed through one of the two open sides of the frame; wherein the two ink pads are held together and against the separating plate by at least two retaining projections of the frame; wherein on each of the two open sides of the frame at least one of the at least two retaining projections extends inwardly; wherein the frame is composed of two separate frame parts which are connected with each other; and wherein on each of the two separate frame parts at least one of the at least two retaining projections is formed in one piece.
2. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the two ink pads and the separating plate together have a thickness which corresponds to that of a standard ink pad.
3. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the sum of the heights of the two frame parts is substantially equal to the height of the frame.
4. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the retaining projection is formed as a retaining edge which extends at least along a portion of the periphery of the frame part.
5. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the separating plate is formed in a liquid-tight manner.
6. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the separating plate comprises metal.
7. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the separating plate comprises a rigid plastic material.
8. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the two ink pads have the same thickness.
9. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the ink pads as a main pad has a larger thickness than the other ink pad forming a spare pad.
10. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the two frame parts are formed such that they have the same size.
11. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the two frame parts comprise interlocking latching elements for their mutual connection.
12. The stamp pad unit according to claim 1, wherein the two ink pads are impregnated with different colors.
13. A stamp pad unit comprising: two ink pads; a separating plate; and a frame with two opposite open sides and with a circumferential, self-contained side wall extending between the two open sides, which side wall comprises two opposite circumferential edges, each of the edges delimiting one of the two open sides; wherein the separating plate is arranged between the two ink pads and separates the ink pads from each other; wherein the separating plate and the two ink pads are accommodated releasably within the frame such that the frame surrounds the two ink pads and the separating plate circumferentially and each ink pad is exposed through one of the two open sides of the frame; wherein the two ink pads are held together and against the separating plate by at least two retaining projections of the frame; and wherein on each of the two open sides of the frame at least one of the at least two retaining projections extends inwardly.
14. A method for assembling a stamp pad unit comprising the steps of: providing a first frame part having at least one first retaining projection extending inwardly on an open side of the first frame part; inserting a first ink pad into the first frame part from a side different to the open side comprising the at least one first retaining projection such that the first ink pad abuts against the at least one first retaining projection and is exposed through the open side of the first frame part; arranging a separating plate onto the first ink pad; arranging a second ink pad onto the separating plate; arranging a second frame part on the second ink pad, the second frame part having at least one second retaining projection extending inwardly on an open side of the second frame part, such that the second ink pad abuts against the at least one second retaining projection and is exposed through the open side of the second frame part; and connecting the second frame part with the first frame part to together form a frame with two open sides.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein connecting the second frame part with the first frame part comprises establishing a latching connection between the first frame part and the second frame part.
Description
(1) In the following, the invention will be explained in further detail by means of preferred and non-limiting embodiments under reference to the drawing, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1A shows a stamp pad unit according to the invention in a diagrammatic view with ink pads accommodated therein;
(3) FIG. 1B shows the stamp pad unit of FIG. 1A in a diagrammatic view in a turned-around state;
(4) FIG. 2A shows the stamp pad unit of FIG. 1A in a diagrammatic view in which the ink pads are omitted;
(5) FIG. 2B shows the stamp pad unit of FIG. 2A in a diagrammatic view, with the ink pads being omitted and in a turned-around state;
(6) FIG. 3 shows the stamp pad unit of FIG. 1A in a view from the top;
(7) FIG. 3A shows the stamp pad unit of FIG. 3 in a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 3;
(8) FIG. 3B shows a sectional view similar to FIG. 3A of a stamp pad unit in which the ink pads are formed with different thicknesses;
(9) FIG. 4 shows a stamp pad unit according to the invention in a diagrammatic view in which the ink pads are omitted, with frame parts being separated from each other, wherein the frame is divided into the two frame parts along its longitudinal extension;
(10) FIG. 5 shows a stamp pad unit according to the invention in a diagrammatic view in which the ink pads are omitted, wherein the frame is divided into the two frame parts along its width extension;
(11) FIG. 6 shows a stamp pad unit according to the invention with bracket-, tongue- or lug-shaped retaining projections; and
(12) FIG. 7 shows a stamp pad unit according to the invention in an exploded view.
(13) FIG. 1A shows an inventive stamp pad unit 1 which comprises two ink pads 2a, 2b, wherein in FIG. 1A only the ink pad 2a can be seen. The ink pads 2a, 2b are arranged within a frame 3 of the stamp pad unit 1 and rest against opposing surfaces 4a, 4b of a separating plate 5 (see inter alia FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3B, 3C, 4, and 5) of the stamp pad unit 1, said separating plate 5 separating the ink pads 2a, 2b from one another. In order to protect the ink pads 2a, 2b against a dropping out of the frame 3 and in order to be able to put them in a simple manner into the frame 3, the frame 3 consists of two separate (different, individually produced) frame parts 3a, 3b which are connected with each other and within which the ink pads 2a, 2b are accommodated. The fact that the frame 3 is composed of two frame parts 3a, 3b is indicated in FIG. 1A by a separating line T. For the holding of the ink pads 2a, 2b, the one frame part 3a has at least one retaining projection 6a which is directed inwardly and is engaged with the ink pad 2a, and the other frame part 3b also has at least one retaining projection 6b which is directed inwardly and is engaged with the ink pad 2b. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1A, the ink pad 2a is inserted or slid into through the aperture of the frame part 3a lying opposite the retaining projection 6a, and the ink pad 2b is inserted or slid into through the aperture of the frame part 3b lying opposite the retaining projection 6b. After insertion of the ink pads 2a, 2b into the frame parts 3a, 3b, the frame parts 3a, 3b will be connected with each other for instance by means of interlocking latching elements 12.
(14) The frame 3 comprises side walls 7, 8, 9, 10 connected with each other which, jointly, substantially take the form of a rectangle. In this connection, the frame part 3a has sub-side walls 7a . . . 10a and the frame part 3b has sub-side walls 7b . . . 10b. The side walls 7 . . . 10 extend between the opposing circumferential edges 11a, 11b of the frame 3, wherein the height H of the side walls 7 . . . 10 or the height H of the frame 3 is determined by the distance between the circumferential edges 11a, 11b of the frame 3. The height H of the frame 3 is at the same time the thickness H of the frame 3. The height H of the frame 3 or the height (thickness) of the stamp pad unit 1 lies for instance between 7.2 and 7.4 mm, preferably at 7.3 mm, so that the stamp pad unit 1 has substantially the same thickness or height as a standard ink pad, and so that the stamp pad unit 1 can be smoothly inserted into a stamp which is dimensioned for a standard ink pad, for instance into a reception slot with a height of 7.6 mm of a self-inking stamp. As becomes in particular apparent from FIG. 2A, the sum of the heights Ha, Hb of the two frame parts 3a, 3b is equal to the height H of the frame 3. Along its periphery U, i.e. along its circumferential edges 11a, 11b which are substantially rectangular in shape, the frame 3 has a substantially constant height or thickness H. It goes without saying that in other embodiments the side walls 7 . . . 10 can have a form which is different from the rectangular form.
(15) FIG. 1B shows the stamp pad unit 1 of FIG. 1A in a turned-around state in which the stamp pad unit 1 was turned around an axis D (see FIG. 1A) by 180°.
(16) FIG. 2A shows the stamp pad unit 1 of FIG. 1A in a diagrammatic view in which the ink pads 2a, 2b were omitted in order to be able to represent the separating plate 5. The separating plate 5 is provided as a separating base within the frame 3 and is arranged at a distance from the circumferential edges 11a, 11b of the frame 3 or from the retaining projections 6a, 6b. The ink pads 2a, 2b which are not represented in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are arranged between the side walls 7 . . . 10 of the frame 3 and on surfaces 4a, 4b (see FIG. 3A) of the separating plate 5 which are opposed to each other.
(17) For instance in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the retaining projections 6a, 6b extend inwardly from the respective circumferential edge 11a, 11b of the frame 3. The retaining projections 6a, 6b could also extend from a point as near as possible to the circumferential edge 11a, 11b of the frame 3. Preferably, the retaining projections 6a, 6b substantially extent at right angles from the respective side wall 7 . . . 10 inwardly with a possibly varying width BV so that each retaining projection 6a, 6b points into the direction of the side wall 7 . . . 10 lying opposite thereto. Preferably, the retaining projections 6a, 6b lie within the plane of the circumferential edges 11a, 11b.
(18) Even if in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B the retaining projections 6a, 6b are for instance formed as retaining edges 6a1, 6b1 which extend along the entire periphery U of the respective frame part 3a, 3b, according to a simplified representation in FIG. 6 of the stamp pad unit 1, it could be provided that the retaining projections 6a, 6b only extend along a portion of the periphery U of the respective frame part 3a, 3b. In this case, at least one retaining projection 6a, 6b is formed such that it is shorter that one of the side walls 7 . . . 10. In particular there can be provided more than one retaining projection 6a, 6b per side wall 7 . . . 10. When the retaining projections 6a, 6b only extend along a portion of the periphery U of the respective frame part 3a, 3b, said retaining projections 6a, 6b can be formed in the shape of brackets, tongues or lugs (see FIG. 6) or pins.
(19) The retaining projections 6a, 6b or the retaining edges 6a1, 6b1 can have a width BV of several millimeters, for instance in the range of 1 mm up to 5 mm, preferably in the range of 2 mm up to 4 mm, wherein said width BV can vary along the periphery U of the frame parts 3a, 3b.
(20) FIG. 2B shows the stamp pad unit 1 of FIG. 2A in a turned-around state in which the stamp pad unit 1 was rotated around an axis D (see FIG. 2A) by 180°. Here it is also apparent that the separating plate 5 is arranged in the middle of the height extension H of the frame. In FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B for instance, the two ink pads 2a, 2b have the same thickness, and the two frame parts 3a, 3b are formed such that they have the same size. Furthermore, at the frame 3 or at the frame parts 3a, 3b there are provided interlocking latching elements 12 by means of which the frame parts 3a, 3b can be connected with each other by latching, preferably in a releasable manner.
(21) FIG. 3 shows the stamp pad unit 1 of FIG. 1A in a view from the top. The frame 3 or the stamp pad unit 1 has a longitudinal extension L and a width extension B.
(22) FIG. 3A shows the stamp pad unit 1 of FIG. 3 in a sectional view along line A-A as represented in FIG. 3. The frame 3 consisting of the two separate frame parts 3a, 3b which are connected with each other, the separating plate 5 and the ink pads 2a, 2b can be clearly recognized. The separating plate 5 is arranged in the middle of the height extension H of the frame 3 so that the ink pads 2a, 2b are formed such that they have the same thickness or the same height. In this connection, the ink pad 2a has a thickness DFa and the ink pad 2b has a thickness DFb. Together, both ink pads 2a, 2b and the separating plate 5 can have a thickness H corresponding to a standard ink pad. If the upper surfaces Sa, Sb (FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 7) facing away from each other of the two ink pads 2a, 2b inserted into the frame 3 in their position of use do not lie within a plane E (FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3B) with the circumferential edges 11a, 11b of the frame 3, it is advantageous when the height H of the side walls 7 . . . 10 or the height H of the frame 3 corresponds to the thickness or height of a standard ink pad.
(23) In contrast to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B shows a stamp pad unit 1 in a sectional view in which the separating plate 5 is arranged outside of (offset) the middle of the height extension H of the frame 3 so that the inkpads 2a, 2b are formed such that they have different thicknesses or different heights. In particular, the ink pad 2a as the main pad has a larger thickness DFa than the ink pad 2b forming a spare pad with the thickness DFb.
(24) FIG. 4 shows a stamp pad unit 1 in which the ink pads 2a, 2b are omitted, with frame parts 3a, 3b being separated from each other. In contrast to the representations in FIG. 1A to FIG. 3C in which the frame 3 is divided into the two frame parts 3a and 3b in the direction of its height extension or thickness H, in FIG. 4 the frame 3 is divided into the two frame parts 3a, 3b in the direction of its longitudinal extension L. As becomes obvious from FIG. 4, the separating plate 5 can be divided into two partial plates 5a, 5b, or, as for instance shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, it can be formed in one piece. In FIG. 4, the partial plate 5b is represented in a partially cut-out manner only in order to be able to recognize a part of the components of the stamp pad unit 1 which lie underneath thereof. Independent of the fact in which direction the frame 3 is divided into the frame parts 3a, 3b, the one-piece or multi-piece separating plate 5 can be formed separately from the frame parts 3a, 3b. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, alternatively the separating plate 5 can be formed in one piece with one of the frame parts 3a, 3b.
(25) FIG. 5 shows a further stamp pad unit 1, with the ink pads 2a, 2b being omitted, wherein the frame parts 3a, 3b have already been connected with each other. In said embodiment, the frame 3 is divided into the two frame parts 3a, 3b in the direction of its width extension B, which is indicated by the separating line T. In this example, the separating plate 5 is formed in one piece, and only in order to be able to recognize a part of the components of the stamp pad unit 1 which lie underneath thereof, it is represented in a partially cut-out manner.
(26) FIG. 7 shows a stamp pad unit 1 according to FIG. 1A in an exploded view. In order to assemble the stamp pad unit 1, for instance an ink pad 2b is inserted into the frame part 3b such that the ink pad 2b abuts against the retaining projection 6b. Then the separating plate 5 is put onto the ink pad 2b, and the other ink pad 2a is put onto the separating plate 5. Subsequently, the frame part 3a is clapped on the ink pad 2a such that the ink pad 2a abuts against the retaining projection 6a, and it will be connected with the frame part 3b, for instance by means of a latching connection which is not represented in FIG. 7. In this connection, the latching connection can be formed in a known manner with a hook and a groove or an undercut.
