Printer thimble element holder

Claim 1

A storage case for thimble elements used in printing devices comprising in combination: a front cover hingeably connected through a spine to a back cover, said back cover having a flat inner surface on which said inner surface is connected a thimble element tray including a plurality of upwardly directed spindles formed in rows and columns thereon for releasably retaining and protecting therein at least one of said thimbles, each of said spindles formed about a longitudinal axis, an open element well associated with each of the spindles having a circular bottom surface formed in a generally flat planar top surface of said tray concentric with said spindle axis, each of said wells including a slightly diverging surface extending upwardly away therefrom and a cylindrical surface, said well adapted to matingly conform to the thimble elements, said cylindrical surface terminating at said top surface, an outer periphery of said top surface terminating in a continuous sloping guide surface extending outwardly and downwardly from said top surface around the periphery of the top surface, the guide surface defining an angle of approximately fifty-five degrees with said flat inner surface and terminating in a mating surface and a stop ledge extending completely around the periphery of said tray, said front cover having an inner surface on which is connected a tray cover defined by an outside and inside wall extending upwardly therefrom and interconnected by an engagement ledge, said tray cover defining a recess for receipt of said element tray, said edge of said tray cover adapted to engage said element tray guide surface upon closure of said tray cover over said tray, thereby automatically aligning the front cover relative to the back cover on closure of the case.