US2899928A - De pataky - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1959 v. DE PATAKY 2,399,928

STENCILING APPARATUS v Filed. Feb. 10, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18, 1959 v. DE PATAKY 2,899,928

STENCILING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 35' INVENTOR.

\blnicc. de P in,

BYKBF,

Aug. 18, 1959 v. DE PATAKY STENCILING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 DEV/CE M w M w.

R. m .Q Q m C d x m w w I, 95 it l Patented Aug. 18, 1959 STENCILING APPARATUS Veronica de Pataky, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 10, 1956, Serial No. 564,738

Claims. (Cl. 118--301) The present invention relates to an applicator device.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an applicator device by means of which a decorative material, especially a flowable one, may be applied to discrete portions of the surface of a card or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an applicator apparatus by means of which a decorative material, as, for example, beads, tinsel and silver tinsel, motor-of-pearl, powder, mica, plastics, fiocs such as cotton or velvet fiocs, dyes, icings, paints or other material that is able to flow and is consequently capable of being applied by gravity or air pressure, may be applied onto the surface of a card or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an applicator device by means of which a fiowable decorative material may be applied to any suitable surface, as, for example, the surface of a card and particularly a greeting card, a sheet of paper, edible goods such as wafers or cakes, textiles, plastics, etc.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of an applicator device by means of which the application process may be accomplished very easily, even by untrained personnel.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an applicator device by means of which a fiowable decorative material or the like may be sprayed onto discrete surface portions of a card or the like.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an applicator apparatus by means of which a number of different decorative materials may simultaneously be applied onto the surface of a card or the like.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an applicator device by means of which a predetermined quantity of a fiowable decorative material or the like may be applied onto the surface of a card or the like.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator device which is capable of removing any excess material applied to the surface of a card or the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator device which comprises a minimum number of parts each of which may be produced at low cost.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of an applicator device which is very simple, which is sturdy, which will give long periods of troublefree service, and by means of which cards or the like, especially greeting cards, may be decorated very inexpensively.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in an applicator device for applying a flowable decorative material or the like upon at least one portion of the surface of a card or the like. The device includes receiving means for receiving a card or the like upon at least one portion of the surface of which a flowable decorative material or the like is to be applied; stencil means having opposite faces and being adapted to be superposed upon the surface of the card or the like while the same is received'by the re ceiving means so that one face of the stencil means is substantially in face-to-face relationship with the surface of the card or the like, the stencil means being formed with at least one perforation which has a cross-section corresponding to the configuration of the one portion of the surface of the card or the like and which, when the stencil means is superposed upon the card or the like, is in registration with the one portion of the surface thereof; and conduit means connected to the stencil means at the opposite face thereof and communicating with the perforation. As a result, when a flowable decorative material or the like is moved through the conduit means toward said perforation of the stencil means, the material will be applied only upon the one portion of the surface of the card.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 to 4 are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the parts being shown in different operative positions;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, in section, of another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a modified arrangement of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view, in section, of a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and to Figs. 1-4 thereof in particular, there is shown a preferred embodiment of an applicator device according to the present invention which includes a support 1 having a main portion 2 and an outrigger 3. A combined receiving and stenciling unit 4 is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the support 1 by means of a hinge device or the like 5.

The unit 4 includes 'a stencil support 6 formed with a recess 7 covered by a stencil plate 8. The latter is secured to the stencil support 6 by means of clamps or screws 9, and is formed with one or more perforations or passages 10. A receiving or positioning device, such as a carrier plate 11, is pivotally secured to the stencil support 6 by means of another hinge device or the like 12 (Fig. 2). The carrier plate 11 is adapted to support a card or the like 13 which may be slipped into the carrier plate 11 in the direction of the arrow 14.

A number of conduit means or tubular connector elements 15 (Figs. 3 and 4) are fixedly secured to the stencil plate 8 and communicate with each of the perforations 10.

The carrier plate 11 is movable relative to the stencil plate 8 between an inoperative position wherein the surface of the card 13 is spaced from the upper face of the stencil plate 8 (Fig. 1) and an operative position wherein the surface of the card 13 is superposed upon the upper face of the stencil plate 8 and is substantially in face-toface relationship therewith (Fig. 2). When the device 11 is in its operative position, a number of individual or discrete surface portions of the card 13 will remain on covered by the perforations 10 of the stencil plate 8, the

location or exact position of which perforations 10, will have been selected so as to be in registration with those surface portions of the card 13 onto which a decorative material is to be applied.

Additionally, the unit 4 is movable relative to the support 1 between a first position wherein the stencil plate 8 is below the card 13 (Figs. :1 and 2) and a second position wherein the stencil plate is above the card (Figs. 3 and 4).

A decorative material or the like may be applied 'to the card 13 as 'follows:

The unit 4 is made to occupy its first'position'and the carrier plate 11 its inoperative one, and a card 13 or the like is inserted into the carrier plate 11. The surface 13 of the card 13 has preferably been previously coated with a'tacky glue or adhesive, particularly inthe regions of those surface portions which are to have a decorative material applied thereto and with which surface portions the openings will, therefore, be in registration. If desired, however, the glue or adhesive may be applied onto the surface 13' after'the card has been'inserted into the-carrier plate 11.

The applicator device, together with the card 13, then assumes the appearance'shown'in Fig. 1.

The carrier plate 11 is moved into its operative position (Fig. 2) and the unit '4 is then pivoted ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings, :past the position illustrated in Fig. 3 until the stencil support "6 abuts against the main support portion 2 (Fig. 4), the latter being provided with arecess 2 to accommodate the hinge device 12.

A flowable decorative material, as, for example, one of the materials mentioned above, may then be sprayed into any one of the tubular elements 15, through the corresponding perforation 10 and onto the particular surface portion of the surface 13' of the card 13 which is in registration with such perforation. Clearly, the configuration of the surface portion onto which the decorative material is applied will correspond to the crosssection of the particular perforation. Thus, if it is desired to apply the material onto a circular surface portion, the cross-section of the corresponding perforation '10 will likewise be circular, and if the material is to be sprayed onto a diamond-shaped surface portion, the corresponding perforation will similarly be of diamond-shaped crosssection.

Any suitable spraying device or spray gun (not shown) may be utilized. The nozzle of the spray device is introduced into the appropriate tubular element 15, so that upon actuation of the spray device, the material will be applied only on that surface portion of the surface 13' of the card 13 which is in registration with the perforation with which the particular tubular element 15 is associated. Thus, a different decorative material may easily be applied to each separate or discrete surface portion which is in registrationwith one of the perforations '10.

In practice, the operator need not move the unit 4 until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 4. Instead, the unit may be held at any desired angle, as,'for example, vertically or'substantially vertically (Fig. 3), with one hand and the spray device may be actuated with'the other hand. If desired, a detent or other retaining mechanismmay be provided for retaining-the'unit "'4 in any angular position relative to the support 1, thereby permitting the applicator device to be operative with one hand.

After'thespraying operation has been completed, the unit 4 is returned'into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the carrier'plate 11 is thereafter raised into the position shown in Fig. 1. The card 13 may thereupon be withdrawn from the carrier plate 11 in 'a direction opposite to that'of the arrow 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig.5 'a combined receiving and stencil unit is mounted for pivotal movement relative to a support 21 by means of a hinge device or the like 22. The unit includes a stencil-plate 23 upon which a receiving or positioning device or carrier plate 24 is pivotally mounted by means of another hinge device or the like 25. The carrier plate 24 is adapted to receive and retain a card or the like 25, and is movable between an inoperative position shown in dot-dash lines wherein the card is spaced from the stencil plate 23 and an operative position shown .in solid lines wherein the card 25 is superposed upon and in substantially face-toface relationship with the stencil plate 23. A retaining screw 26 or other suitable device, as, for example, a clamp, may he provided for securing the carrier plate 24 to the stencilplate 23's'o as firmly to press the card 25 thereagainst. v

The stencil plate 23 is 'formedwith one or more perforations 27 which open in the opposite faces of the stencil plate, and a like number of hoppers or receptacles 23 are firmly secured to the stencil plate in such manner as to be in communication with the perforations, as is clearly shown in the drawing. Each receptacle is adapted to contain a flowable decorative material which may be introduced into the receptacles by way of the perforations 27 while the-device '24 is in its inoperative position shown in dot-dash lines.

As in the above-described embodiment, thelocation of the perforations 27 is so selected that when the' carrier plate 24 is in its operative position shown in solid lines, those surface portions of the card 25 upon which the decorative -material is to be applied-are in registration with the perforations 27.

The operation of the applicator device is as follows:

When the carrier plate 24 is in-its inoperative position, the card may easily be inserted thereinto. Preferably, a tacky glue or adhesive haspreviously been applied to at least those surface portions of thecard'which will be in registration with the perforations 27. The carrier plate 24 is then moved to its operativeposition so'that the lower surface in the card is in face-to-faee relationship with the upper or stencilingface of the stencil plate 23.

The-combined re'ceivingand stencil-unit 2i) normally occupies a first or rest position, shown 'in' solid lines, wherein the stencil plate 23 abuts against a stop 21 carried b'y' or integral with the support 21. In his rest position the stencil plate-23 and the receptacles 223 carried thereby'arebelow the card 25 held by the carrier plate The unit 20 is pivoted from this rest position in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed'in Fig. 5, past the'position shown in dashed. lines, until'it'abuts against the stop 21 which may be carried hy-or be integral with the support 21. The unit 2% has thus been rotated sub stantially so as'tov assume a second position wherein the stencilfpla'te 23 and the receptacles28 carried thereby are above'the card 25 held by the carrier plate 24-, The flowable decorative material'eorrtained'in the receptacles 28 may therefore, under the influence of gravity, flow through the mouths of the-receptacles, through the'perforations 27, and onto the surface-portions of the card 25 which are in registration with "the perforations.

After the decorative material has been appliedto the card 25, the unit 20' may be pivoted in a clockwise direction back into its first position, shown in solid lines. The carrier plate 24 may then be moved to its inoperative position shown in dot-dash lines and the card 25 be withdrawn.

If desired, a closure ordispensirrg-device (not shown) maybe provided in the'mouth portion of each rece tacle 28'for dispensing a-predetermined quantity of the material onto the surface of the card 25 when the unit is in its second position.

Also, suitable-hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical operating means (not shown) may be provided for pivoting' the unit 20 between its first and second positions.

Such operating means may be activated by a footor manual control readily accessible to the operator of the applicator device.

In t eembodim'entillustratedinFig: 6 a card or'the 5. like 30 is supported on a support 31 and may be clamped thereto by a number of clamps 32 which are pivotable on the support 31 between the clamping positions shown in solid lines and releasing positions shown in dashed lines. The card 30 may be placed onto or removed from the support 31 while the clamps 32 are in their releasing posi tions, whereas these clamps firmly retain the card on the support while they are in their clamping positions. Alternatively, suitable guides may be provided for positioning and retaining a card on the support 31.

A stencil plate 33 is mounted on the support 31 by means of a hinge device or the like 34 for pivotal movement between an operative position wherein the lower face of the stencil plate is in face-to-face relationship with the card 30 supported on the support 31 and an inoperative position wherein the lower face of the stencil plate is spaced from such card. The latter position is the one illustrated in Fig. 6.

The stencil plate 33 is formed with one or more per forations 35, and a hollow transition piece or tubular connector 36 is associated with each perforation 35. Each connector is open at both ends, the lower end, as viewed in Fig. 6, preferably but not necessarily having a crosssection or configuration corresponding to that of the perforation with which it is associated. Alternatively, a single connector may cover or be associated with two or more perforations of the stencil plate. Each connector is firmly secured to the stencil plate 33 such as by soldering or other suitable means.

If desired, each connector may be formed with ears 36 which are in face-to-face relationship with the upper surface of the stencil plate 33, thereby improving the firm mounting of the connectors.

The upper end of each connector is formed as a connecting stud 36" by means of which a conduit, such as a tube or pipe, may be secured to the connector. The studs 36" may, if desired, be internally or externally threaded to accommodate correspondingly threaded conduits.

A number of receptacles 37 are arranged above the stencil plate 33 and may be suspended from the support 31 by means of hooks 38 or the like, and be adapted to be filled through closable openings 37'. A plurality of conduits, such as tubes or pipes 39, place each receptacle in communication with one of the connectors 36, the connection between the connectors 36 and the conduits 39 being effected at 36". If desired, a flow control valve or dispensing mechanism 40 may be interposed in each conduit 39 for regulating the quantity of material flowing out of each receptacle 37.

Also, the space within each connector 36 may be placed in communication with a suction device, shown schematically at 41, by means of additional conduits 42 each of which communicates with each conduit 39 by way of a valve 43, each of which valves is movable between a position wherein the corresponding connector 36 is in communication with its corresponding receptacle 38 while being out of communication with the suction device 41, and another position wherein the corresponding connector 36 is in communication with the suction device 41 but out of communication with its corresponding receptacle 37. If desired each valve 43 may additionally be adapted to assume a closed position wherein the corresponding connector is out of communication with both its receptacle 37 as well as with the suction device 41.

It will be seen from the above that when the stencil plate is in its operative position and when the valves 40 and 43 place the connectors in communication with the receptacles, a flowable material in the receptacles will flow downwardly and be applied onto those surface portions of the card 30 which are in registration with the perforations 35. The configurations or cross-sections of the latter, of course, have been selected to correspond to the configurations of the surface portions onto which the material is to be applied.

Any excess material applied to the card may be removed by placing the interiors of the connectors 36 in communication with the suction device 41. This may be accomplished by setting the valves 43 accordingly, as described above. Theexcess material thus sucked in may be salvaged and returned to the appropriate receptacle 37. 1

Obviously, a'diflerent material may be contained in each receptacle 37, and stencil plates may be provided having perforations arranged and designed differently from those shown in Fig. 6. 'Also, the arrangement may be such that the decorative material contained in one of the receptacles be applied to more than one surface portion of the card.

Such an arrangement is shown schematically in Fig. 7 wherein the stencil plate 50 is formed with four heartshaped perforations 51, four diamond-shaped perforations 52, and one star-shaped perforation 53, or a total of nine perforations. Each of these perforations is associated with a connector 54, only one of which is shown in Fig. 7.

A total of three receptacles 56, 57 and 58 are provided, each of which contains a' different fiowable decorative material, or similar but difierently colored material, and the arrangement of the conduits interconnecting the receptacles and the perforations is such that the material in the receptacle 56 will pass through the heart-shaped perforations 51, the .material in the receptacle 57 will pass through the diamond-shaped perforations 52, and the material in the receptacle 58 will pass through the star-shaped perforation 53. The card or the like being treated will therefore be decorated accordingly, so that it is possible, according to the present invention, to apply different decorative materials simultaneously.

If desired, the gravity-feed arrangements shown in the embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7 may be replaced by a spraying device. The upper ends of the conduits 39 may therefore be connected to spray gun or the like instead of to the receptacles 37.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 the stencil plate is stationarily supported on the support 61. A carrier plate 62 is mounted on the support 61 by a hinge device or the like 63 for pivotal movement between an operative position, shown in solid lines, wherein a card or the like 64 supported by the carrier plate is substantially in face-to-face relationship with the upper surface of the stencil plate 60 and an inoperative position, shown in dashed lines, wherein the card is spaced from the stencil plate and may easily be inserted into and removed from the carrier plate. The carrier plate 62 may be retained in its operative position by a screw 62.

The stencil plate 60 is formed with one or more perforations 65, each of which is associated with a hollow transitlon piece or tubular connector 66. Each of the latter 1s connected to the lower face of the stencil plate 60 and has an upper end which preferably corresponds in cross-section to that of the perforation 65 with which t is associated. The lower end of each connector 66 is connected to a spraying device 67 by way of a conduit 68 and to a suction device 69 by way of a conduit 70, suitable valves 72 being provided for placing the lnteriors of the connectors 66 in communication with either the spraying device 67 or the suction device 69.

It will be seen from the above that when the carrier plate 62 is in its operative position and when the valves 71 place the connectors 66 in communication with the spraying device 67, a flowable decorative material or the like may be sprayed upwardly through the connectors 66, through the perforations 65 and onto the lower surface of the card 64. Excess material may then be sucked from the surface of the card by actuating the valves 71 in such a manner as to place the connectors in communication With the suction device 69.

r In practice, the suction exerted by the suction device 69 ;-need bebut relatively,smalljnasmuchas mnstzof the excessmaterial :will .drop. under; the influenceof gravity.,-, It {has even been found that im the instant.:embod1ment; .1 satisfactory resultscan. be. obtained thy dispensing vwith ;the.-:

suction device 69 entirely, particularly if .someyibration isexerted on the card i644 Fonsthistpurpose, .a: ;vibrat.or.- or the like (not shown) may be provided.

In the embodimentsshown. inanyroneof Figs-16,1 7 and 8, thehollow'transition pieces. on. tubular. connectors;v may be-made of asingle .piece. of .sheetmetal :onthe .glikes.

It has been found advantageousj..however, particularly.

when the flowable decorative material .is tozbeapplied by. air-pressure .and'is in powder, tinsel-iorafloc. form onis otherwise composed of discrete particles; to..'form-.the connectors with apertures z ore outlets opening. near. that end. which is adjacent the perforation. of ithee-stencil plate, andLtO. cover such. apertures With a%fin6-m8Sh.WiI or. silk screen :capable. of preventing the. passage of.;the-par-..

ticles through the'apertures :While-permitting the passage of. air. therethrough;

Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 9 WhI6in the connector-.80. has-a shapew similar-to that of th'eleftmost connectorfifi-ishowni in Fig. 6: However, thexconnector. 80=.is.formed with. a number of apertures SLWhich. are .in the region of'the lower open end of the-connector,

thezlatter having. a configuration which may correspond to that of. the perforation of thestencil-plate next-to 1 which the connector is-to be placed. A relatively finemesh screen insert 82 having ashape corresponding to that of .the .connector 80 is adapted to be received-within the latterso .as to. constitute a screen covering =the'apertures. In this way, when aflowable decorative=material 1 or the like. whichis composedof, discrete particles is moved through the. connector underair pressure, th'ep-articles ;will be .prevented from passingthrough-the-apertures, and will, therefore, under the influence -of-'=-thepressure, he forced .to enter the stencil plate' perforationand so.becorne .applied onto that surface porti'on of thecard which is on the opposite side of the stencil plate-andwhichis in.registration with the perforations The-compressed, air, however, will be. freesto pass outwardly by way of the apertures 81.-

Obviously, any. suitable screeningmeans-may-be-provided to covertheapertures 81. Thus, for-example; the.=

insert .82, may be replaced by a similarly-shaped element whichjis adapted to encompassthe connecton-SL-orby an annular. screen element. that may be-fittedinto 'or parting in any way from the spirit ofthe. present invention.

Without further'analysis, the foregoing will so. fully re.-. veal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for. various' applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specificaspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and. are'intended to be comprehended within the'meaning and range of equivalence of the following'claims.

What is claimed as -I16W-'21!1d'dSlI6diO be secured by Lettersv Patent is z.

1. An applicatorgdevicexfor applying aflowable decorative material or the like, uponatdeast one portion ofnationareceiving-:means-cfon:receiving;a card--01 the like:

uponiat z'leastirone portiomof the. surface of which a flow-- able rlecorativeirnaterialionrthe like is.--.to. be applied; stencil; means; having; azstencilingnfacecand xbeingnadaptedito .:be; superposedrilpbn:thezsurfacejof;thercard1or ;the like while the r samee is: received by asaid, RIQC-fiilliflgz; means so said. stencilinge-faceiofrsaid: stencil means isgsubstantially in; face-to-facezrelationshipzwiththe surface sot the card or:

the 2 like; saidzzstencili'means being "formed with v at least.

.one passage means ,therethtough .opening at-,oneyendx thereof in said stenciling face, said passage .meansghaving at said one end agcrosszsection corresponding to the .con,-.

figuration ;of- =.said. tonesportion ofz-the surface :ofthe-;card:.- h lik nd; beingsin registrationwith said one'porti'on. of; said surface. of the, card when; said :stencil 'means ;is.

superposed thereupon; and-conduit means communicating= with said passage meansgat a pointjthereofspaced from said one end thereof, whereby when a fiowablerdecorative material or the like is moyed -t hro ugh'-saidficonduit, means toward said one end ofisaidpassage means; the material will be applied onlyupon saidone'portiomof the surface.

of thecard or the -like, V

2. An. applicator device for applying a flowable decorative. material or the like; uponat; least one-portion of the surface of a card-or; the like, comprising, incombination, receivingmeans for receiving; a card -or the;like upon at least-one portion-of the surface of which, -.a-.flowable decorative material or." the ;like is -to ybeapplied; stencil: means having opposite faces and being-,adaptedj to be superposed upon 'thesurface of-;the-. card or, the,-like while the same is received. by said receiving-meansso that one face of saidstencil means is substantially in'face-toface relationship with the surface of-tl1e'cardor the-;like,-.

said stencil means-beingfermed .with at least zone-perfoor -the like. and which, when. saidstencil; means is;super posed upprp the -.,cardnor.,- the--like, is .in! registration with said one portion of the surface thereof; and conduit means;

connected to said stencil 'means. atthe opppsite face thereof and communicating; withsaid; perforationy.

whereby when 'a flowable decorativematerial orthe-like is moved through said conduitmeanstoward said :perforation of said stencil: means, the material iwillbe applied only upon saidone portion of the-surface; of;zthe card 3. An applicator devicefor applying allowable.,decora-. tive material .orathe'likeup on at least one portion: of-the surfaceof a card or thelike, comprising,-in combination,

support means; a combined, receiving; and stenciling unit 1 including a receiving means for receivinggaticard or the;

like upon. at least; oneportion-of, the -.surface: of whic ha decorative material on the like ,is to. be .applied, astencil means having opposite faces andbeing adapted to be--v superposed upon the surface of the cardor. the-,likewhile. the same is received, bysaid-receiving meansso that one faceof said stencil means is substantiallyin faceeto-face: relationship with. the surface of the card or 'thelike, said stencil means being formed with at least ,one perforation which has across-section corresponding to the configuration of said one portion of the surface of-thecard. or the likeandwhich, when .said stencil-means'is'superposed' upon. the .card. or :the like, .is inregistration with saidoneo portion of the surface thereof, and conduit means connected to said stencil-means at theopposite face thereof; and communicating with said perforation; and; mounting;

means for mounting; said. combined receiving; and stenciling unitfor movement relative to said :support1 means h receiving and :stenciling tuni-t'zis in one of; sitsipositionsand.

whereby;a.fiowable;decorativeimaterialzorzthelike rnay the surface ofa cardv or. the, like,:.comprising,..in .combi- ;;be moved through said conduit 'rn'eans toward said.perfo--- ration of said stencil means and thus be applied only upon said one portion of the surface of the card or the like when said combined receiving and stenciling unit is in the other of its positions.

4. An applicator device for applying a flowable decorative material or the like upon at least one portion of the surface of a card or the like, comprising, in combination, support means; a combined receiving and stenciling unit including a receiving means for receiving a card or the like upon at least one portion of the surface of which a decorative material or the like is to be applied, a stencil means having opposite faces and being adapted to be superposed upon the surface of the card or the like, said stencil means being formed with at least one perforation which has a cross-section corresponding to the configuration of said one portion of the surface of the card or the like and which, when said stencil means is superposed upon the card or the like, is in registration with said one portion of the surface thereof, conduit means connected to said stencil means at one face thereof and communicating with said perforation, and first mounting means for mounting said receiving means for movement relative to said stencil means and said conduit means between an operative position wherein the surface of a card or the like received by said receiving means is superposed upon the opposite face of said stencil means and is substantially in face-to-face relationship therewith and an inoperative position wherein the surface of the card or the like is spaced from said opposite face of said stencil means; and second mounting means for mounting said combined receiving and stenciling unit for movement relative to said support means between a first position wherein said stencil means and said conduit means are below a card received by said receiving means and a second position wherein said stencil means and said conduit means are above a card received by said receiving means, whereby a card may be inserted into said receiving means when said receiving means is in its inoperative position and said combined receiving and stenciling unit is in one of its positions and whereby a flowable decorative material or the like may be moved through said conduit means toward said perforation of said stencil means and thus be applied only upon said one portion of the surface of the card or the like when said receiving means is in its operative position and said combined receiving and stenciling unit is in the other of its positions.

5. An applicator device for applying a flowable decorative material or the like upon at least one portion of the surface of a card or the like, comprising, in combination, support means; a combined receiving and stenciling unit including a receiving means for receiving a card or the like upon at least one portion of the surface of which a decorative material or the like is to be applied, a stencil means having opposite faces and being adapted to be superposed upon the surface of the card or the like, said stencil means being formed with at least one perforation which has a cross-section corresponding to the configuration of said one portion of the surface of the card or the like and which, when said stencil means is superposed upon the card or the like, is in registration with said one portion of the surface thereof; receptacle means adapted to contain a flowable decorative material or the like, said receptacle means being connected to said stencil means at one face thereof and communicating with said perforation, and first mounting means for mounting said receiving means for movement relative to said stencil means and said receptacle means between an operative position wherein the surface of a card or the like received by said receiving means is superposed upon the opposite face of said stencil means and is substantially in face-to-face relationship therewith and an inoperative position wherein the surface of the card or the like is spaced from said opposite face of said stencil means; and second mounting means for mounting said combined receiving and stenciling unit for movement relative to said support means between a first position wherein said stencil means and said receptacle means are below a card received by said receiving means and a second position wherein said stencil means and said receptacle means are above a card received by said receiving means, whereby a card may be inserted into said receiving means when said receiving means is in its inoperative position and said combined receiving and stenciling unit is in its first postion and whereby a flowable decorative material or the like in said receptacle means may under the influence of gravity flow through said perforation of said stencil means and thus be applied only upon said one portion of the surface of the card or the like when said receiving means is in its operative position and said combined receiving and stenciling unit is in its second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,892 Folsom Nov. 18, 1890 476,033 Bunch May 31, 1892 659,535 Lankford Oct. 9, 1900 665,747 Martin Jan. 8, 1901 2,676,110 Hesse Apr. 24, 1954 2,765,494 Weingart Oct. 9, 1956

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