US2794394A - Hand printer - Google Patents

Description

June 4-, 1957 JOHNSQN 2,794,394

HAND PRINTER Filed April 20, 1954 F re d L Johnson In EN TOR.

United States Patent HAND PRINTER Fred L. Johnson, Omaha, Nebr.

Application April 20, 1954, Serial No. 424,393

Claims. (Cl. 101-375) This invention relates to a hand printer, and more particularly to an improvement in the class of printing stamps adapted to mark any suitable surface with an imprint by means of raised letters.

An object of this invention is to provide a hand printer having a plurality of dies mounted thereon which can be selectively engaged with a surface for marking the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand printer having means thereon indicating the marking of the printing dies.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hand printer wherein the printing dies are positioned thereon so as to be out of contact with the surface upon which the device is resting and which can come in contact with the surface merely by rocking the hand printer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hand printer having a handle mounted thereon in spaced relation to the base thereof so as to receive a stamp pad therebetween.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a hand printer and stamp pad combination wherein the stamp pad will be retained in position on the hand printer only when inserted in an upright position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand printer which is simple and eflicient in construction, and durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the hand printer showing the stamp pad in position thereon and with one of the dies being in operative position;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the hand printer forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the hand printer forming the subject of this invention with the stamp pad positioned therein; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hand printer forming the subject of this invention with the other printing die shown in operative position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the improved hand printer forming the subject of this invention includes a longitudinally bowed or curved base having a fiat handle portion 12 spanning the concave side and joining the opposite ends thereof. The base 10 and the handle 12 are preferably formed of a transparent material for a purpose to be later described.

The handle 12 is secured to the base 10 in any suitable manner and is preferably of a resilient material. Further, the opposite sides of the handle portion 12 are relieved and thus provided with cut-out portions 14. The ends of these cut-out portions 14 are rounded, as at 16.

ice j The purpose of the rounding of the ends of the cut-out' portions 14 is. such that when it is desired to use the device for printing purposes, the thumb is placed in one of the cut-out portions 14 and resting against the curved portion, and the second finger is placed in the other cutout portion 14 in engagement with the rounded portion 16 and the index finger is poised in a hold-down position on the top of the handle portion.

, Secured to the lower face of the base 10 and extending downwardly therefrom are a pair of printing dies 18. These printing dies may have any suitable raised lettering 20 disposed thereon. When the hand printer is at rest in a normal position, the center point of the curved base 10 rests on the surfaceand the printing dies 18 are spaced thereabove so as not to leave an imprint on the surface. When it is desired to print with the device, the hand printer is grasped, as above described, and is rolled or rocked in the direction of the desired printing die. This will leave the desired imprint on the surface.

Suitable indicia 22 are provided at opposite ends of the handle portion 12 to indicate the markings on the associated printing dies. Further, suitable indicia 24 may be provided on the center portion of the handle 12 for advertising purposes.

By forming the base 10 and handle 12 of transparent material, it will be seen that it is possible to properly position the hand printer for leaving an imprint in a desired position. Further, the use of a colored transparent plastic will provide an attractive desk accessory.

The space between the curved base 10 and the handle portion 12 forms a convenient receptacle for an inking stamp pad. This stamp pad comprises a base 26 having a cover formed of a top member 28 and depending mar ginal walls 30 secured thereto by means of a hinge 32. The junction of the marginal Wall 30 to the top member 28 is tapered, as at 34. Thus, it will be seen that when the stamp pad is placed in the opening between the base 10 and the handle 12, the same will be frictionally retained therein due to the resilience of the handle 12. This will be true only if the stamp pad is placed in the opening in an upright position. In the event that the stamp pad is placed in the opening in an inverted position, the same will not be frictionally retained therein due to the fact that the tapering of the junction of the side walls 30 of the top member 28 will conform to the contour of the base member 10 whereby the bottom member 26 will be spaced from the handle 12. This will allow the stamp pad to freely pass through the opening between the handle 12 and the base 10.

A number of features and advantages attend this im vention. That is to say, I desire to stress the longitudinally bowed or curved base in that it functions as a rocker being so designed that the bottom acts as a stand for the two printing dies, thus preventing the ink on the dies from marking anything that the device rests on. The distance between the concave top or central portion and the handle is such, as before stated, that an ink pad of type shown may be handily and snugly fitted in this available space, thus enabling one to keep the device and pad assembled and in readiness for use. The markings on the end portions function to readily identify which end of the hand printer to rise, according to the imprint desired. The best feature of this phase of the invention is the provisions made on available surfaces for permanent ads. It is also believed that this hand printer has as many other applications and advertising promises as. any similarly constructed and functioning device.

The selection of transparent color plastics permits oneto see through the material to determine alignment and placement of the printing dies where the imprint should appear. The shape of the top or handle is so designed. as to make rolling orrocker action handy with equalized:

Patented June 4, 1957.

pressure and to avoid sm'ea ng. That is to say, the

special notches 1414 and "end abutm'ents 16 1'6"may up, with minimum effort, bank deposits by mail; making checks less negotiable by' immediate and protective "endorsement, proper addressingof deposit slips, po'sitive 'receipts and return address on the envelopes.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hand printer comprising a longitudinally bowed concave-convex base, a handle spanning the concave side and having its ends secured to the free ends of said base, and printing dies mounted on the convex side of said base and extending downwardly therefrom, said printing dies being disposed adjacent the free ends only of said base, that portion of the convex side between said dies being smooth and free of obstructions to facilitate rocking.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and the combination therewith of descriptive indicia at the respective transverse end portions of said handle corresponding to the complemental and respective printing dies and in general useful alignment with the dies to assist the user in selecting the desired die without having to turn the device upside down for checking purposes.

3. A hand printer comprising a longitudinally bowed concavo-convex base, a handle spanning the concave side and having its ends secured to the free ends of said base, and printing dies mounted on the convex side of said base and extending downwardly therefrom, said printing dies being disposed adjacent the free ends only of said base, that portion of the convex side between said dies 4 being smooth and free of obstructions to facilitate rocking, the curvature of the convex side of said base 'beingof a degree that when the central areal portion of the base is at rest on a support surface and the device is not in use, the respective end portions carrying the stated dies are elevated to a plane well above the support surface to prevent contact with the surface or possible marring of any work items that may be on said surface.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and wherein said handle is of resilient material so that it may be utilized to advantage in aptly and satisfactorily positioning and retaining a stamp pad in a handy out-of-the-way position in the space between the concave side of the base and the underneath side of the handle.

5. A hand printer comprising a longitudinally bowed concavo-convex base, a handle spanning the concave side and having its ends secured to the free ends of said base, and printing dies mounted on the convex side of said base and extending downwardly therefrom, said printing dies being disposed adjacent the free ends only of said base, that portion of the convex side between said dies being smooth and free of obstructions to facilitate rocking, said handle and base being formed of transparent commercial plastics, whereby to assist a user'in spotting and quickly locating and positioning the dies in respect to a selected spot on a sheet of paper or the like where the intended impression is to be made.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 671,648 Johnson Apr. 9, 1901 1,078,854 Higginbotham .Nov. 18, 1913 1,249,417 Kennedy et a1. Dec. 11, 1917 1,377,941 Thomas May 10, 1921 1,519,481 Bing Dec. 16, 1924 1,576,778 Morton" Mar, 16, 1926 2,089,549 Grant Aug; 10,. 1937 2,186,144 Payne Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 632,550 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1949

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