Magnetically aligned hole punch

• US 7,011,009 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jennifer Tomich
• Original Assignee: Jennifer Lynne Tomich
• Inventors: Tomich, Jennifer Lynne
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Kenneth E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAKE, CAROLYN T
• Application Number:
  US10/707,132
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 836/20, 83684-689, 836/982.1, 248/206.5, 294/65
• US Class Current: 83/696
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/02 Perforating by punching, e.g. with relatively-reciprocating punch and bed
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/36 Punching or perforating pliers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49897 Registering mating opposed tool parts [e.g., registering a punch and a cooperating die]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9452 With tool contour adjusting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9459 Magnetic connection

Abstract

A punching device for punching paper and like sheet material contains an upper frame, a cooperating upper magnetic base supporting the upper frame, and a punch rod slideably disposed within the upper frame, and passing through a clearance hole formed in the upper magnetic base. A lower magnetic base contains a punch die. The lower magnetic base which magnetically aligns with the upper magnetic base when a paper sheet is disposed between the upper and lower magnetic bases, and the punch rod is then concentrically aligned with the punch die. This punching device can be used to punch a hole anywhere over the extent of the sheet, regardless of how far the hole is from any edge of the sheet.

Claims

1. A punching device for punching paper and like sheet material comprising:

(a) an upper frame;

(b) a cooperating upper magnetic base supporting said frame;

(c) one or more punch rods slideably disposed within the upper frame, each passing through a corresponding clearance hole formed in the upper magnetic base; and

(d) a lower magnetic base further comprising a punch die corresponding to each punch rod which magnetically aligns with the upper magnetic base when said sheet material is disposed between the upper and lower magnetic bases,

so that the punch may be used to perforate said sheet material anywhere on a surface of the sheet.

2. The punching device of claim 1, further comprising a lever handle rotatably affixed to the upper frame, and which slideably engages a top of each punch rod, providing a user with mechanical advantage in operating the punching device.

3. The punching device of claim 1, further comprising a lever handle rotatably affixed to the upper frame, and one or more springs, each of which exerts a restraining force to maintain the corresponding punch rod in an upper position, wherein the punch rod descends to a lower position when a superior, opposing force is applied to the top of the punch rod.

4. The punching device of claim 3 wherein one or more oblong slots is formed within the lever handle, wherein each corresponding punch rod has an annular recess formed in proximity with the top of the punch rod, with the annular recess captured within the oval slot of the lever handle, so that each punch rod will raise when the lever handle is raised, and lower when the lever handle is lowered.

5. The punching device of claims 1 or 2, wherein the number of punch-rods is one, the number of clearance holes is one, and the number of punch dies is one.

6. The punching device of claims 3 or 4, wherein the number of punch-rods is one, the number of clearance holes is one, and the number of punch dies is one.

7. The punching device of claims 1 or 2, wherein the number of punch-rods is three, the number of clearance holes is three, and the number of punch dies is three.

8. The punching device of claims 3 or 4, wherein the number of punch-rods is three, the number of clearance holes is three, and the number of punch dies is three.

9. A punching device for punching paper and like sheet material comprising:

(e) an upper frame;

(f) a cooperating upper magnetic base supporting said frame;

(g) one or more punch rods slideably disposed within the upper frame, each passing through a corresponding clearance hole formed in the upper magnetic base; and

(h) a lower magnetic base, not physically connected to the upper frame or upper magnetic base, and further comprising a punch die corresponding to each punch rod which magnetically aligns with the upper magnetic base when said sheet material is disposed between the upper and lower magnetic bases, so that the punch may be used to perforate said sheet material anywhere on a surface of the sheet.

10. The punching device of claim 9, further comprising a lever handle rotatably affixed to the upper frame, and which slideably engages a top of each punch rod, providing a user with mechanical advantage in operating the punching device.

11. The punching device of claim 9, further comprising a lever handle rotatably affixed to the upper frame, and one or more springs, each of which exerts a restraining force to maintain the corresponding punch rod in an upper position, wherein the punch rod descends to a lower position when a superior opposing force is applied to the top of the punch rod.

12. The punching device of claim 11, wherein one or more oblong slots is formed within the lever handle, wherein each corresponding punch rod has an annular recess formed in proximity with the top of the punch rod, with the annular recess captured within the oval slot of the lever handle, so that each punch rod will raise when the lever handle is raised, and lower when the lever handle is lowered.

13. The punching device of claims 9 or 10, wherein the number of punch-rods is one, the number of clearance holes is one, and the number of punch dies is one.

14. The punching device of claims 11 or 12, wherein the number of punch-rods is one, the number of clearance holes is one, and the number of punch dies is one.