Spring energized desktop stapler

• US 7,178,709 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Worktools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Worktools Incorporated
• Inventors: Marks, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada; Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US11/065,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20050139631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 227/119, 227/120, 227/125, 227/126, 227/132, 227/134, 227/107
• US Class Current: 227/107
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/0242 having a pivoting upper leg and a leg provided with an anvil supported by the table or work
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/0292 with the objects to be stapled together introduced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tool in an opening formed by an anvil and a plunger
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/10 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/1696 Staple support displaceable relative to the tool to allow re-loading

Abstract

A desktop stapler uses a spring to store energy to install staples by impact blow. The force required to fasten papers together is reduced. A very compact mechanism is used, including a dual coil power spring with a nested lever. A multi-function base provides a sloped front all the way to down to a desk top surface to guide paper sheets atop the base, easy access for lifting the stapler off a desk, horizontal or vertical resting positions, and integrated soft grip under-surface. The base surrounds the rear of the stapler body to provide a smooth exterior so that the device is natural to use both horizontally and vertically. A simple re-set spring provides a smooth re-set action as the handle is raised. A staple track includes enlargement features to fit a larger staple pusher spring.

Claims

1. A stapling device for dispensing staples, comprising:

a handle pivotably attached to a housing body;

a striker slidably disposed in the body proximate to a front end thereof;

a track disposed beneath the striker within the body for holding the staples, wherein the striker is biased to move toward the track to impact the staples;

a lever having a front end, a back end, a pivot axis therebetween, wherein the pivot axis pivotably engages the body, the handle selectively engages the lever, and the lever front end selectively lifts the striker against the striker bias;

a re-set spring including a coiled torsion spring having a first arm and a second arm, the re-set spring urging the lever back end away from the track and lowering the lever front end to re-engage the striker;

wherein the re-set spring pivotably engages the body at a first end of the first arm, and the re-set spring presses the lever at a second end of the second arm; and

the first arm includes a bent segment that extends into a hole of the body, the hole being larger in diameter than a wire diameter of the re-set spring and defining a pivot axis for the first spring arm, wherein the bent segment has at its distal end a further bent portion, and the bent portion presses into a wall of the hole.

2. A stapling device for dispensing staples, comprising:

a handle pivotably mounted to a housing body;

the body having a front end and a hinge connection proximate to a rear end;

a base pivotably engaging the body at the hinge connection;

a striker slidably disposed in the body proximate to the front end thereof;

a track disposed beneath the striker for holding the staples, wherein the striker is biased to move toward the track to impact the staples;

a lever having a front end, a back end, a pivot axis therebetween, and a contact point rearward of the pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis pivots against the body, the handle rotatably engages the contact point, and the lever front end selectively lifts the striker against the bias, and wherein the lever pivot axis includes an elongated slot pivotably and slidably mounted to the body so that a re-set spring further urges the lever to slide linearly toward the front end; and

the re-set spring presses rearward of the lever pivot axis and engages the lever back end and body, urging the lever front end toward the track to re-engage the striker.

3. A stapling device for dispensing staples, comprising:

a handle pivotably mounted to a housing body;

the body having a front end and a hinge connection proximate to a rear end;

a base pivotably engaging the body at the hinge connection;

a striker slidably disposed in the body proximate to the front end thereof;

a track disposed beneath the striker for holding the staples, wherein the striker is biased to move toward the track to impact the staples;

a lever having a front end, a back end, a pivot axis therebetween, and a contact point rearward of the pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis pivots against the body, the handle rotatably engages the contact point, and the lever front end selectively lifts the striker against the bias, and wherein the lever includes a slidable mounting within the body so that the lever front end is biased to slide linearly toward the body front end; and

a re-set spring disposed rearward of the lever pivot axis and engaging the lever back end and body, urging the lever front end toward the track to re-engage the striker.

4. A stapling device, comprising:

a body;

a base including a plurality of sidewalls, wherein the body extends forward from a pivotal attachment of the base to the body in a substantially parallel relationship above the base, and wherein the body includes opposed bosses that engage complementary recesses in the sidewalls of the base, the sidewalls being non-rigid extensions of the base at the recesses, the bosses and recesses defining a pivot location of the body upon the base at the pivotal attachment, the body installed between the sidewalls by momentarily deflecting the sidewalls apart;

a handle movably attached to the body;

a staple loading chamber;

a track within the loading chamber to hold and feed staples; and

a striker to eject staples at a front of the loading chamber out of the stapling device.

5. The stapling device of claim 4, wherein two sidewalls extend upward in a substantially parallel relationship, and the recesses are in interior surfaces of the sidewalls, wherein the non-rigid sidewalls are momentarily spread apart by the bosses at edges of the sidewalls as the body is forced between the sidewalls, and wherein the sidewalls spring back when the bosses are seated within the recesses.

6. A stapling device, comprising:

a body and a handle pivotably attached to the body, wherein the handle has a rest position where the handle is pivoted to a farthest position away from the body, the handle has a pre-release position where the handle is pivoted toward the body, and the handle has a re-set position intermediate between the rest position and the pre-release positions;

a striker that is movable within the body and is linked to the handle through a lever whereby pressing the handle toward the body causes the striker to rise in the body;

a power spring within the body that is linked to the striker wherein raising the striker causes the power spring to deflect and store energy;

wherein at a predetermined position of the handle, the lever suddenly de-links from the striker and the striker ejects a staple out of a staple loading chamber as the power spring returns to a rest position;

the power spring includes a helical coil that pivots about a spring axis; and

the lever axis is defined by a pin and the pin fits into a cavity of the body, and a molded cylindrical sleeve of the body surrounds the pin with the sleeve defining the spring axis, wherein a wire of the power spring slides against the sleeve as the spring is deflected.

7. The stapling device of claim 6, wherein the sleeve includes a thin lower wall whereby the spring axis is above the lever axis.

8. A stapling device, comprising:

a body and a handle pivotably attached to the body at a rear of the stapling device, wherein the handle has a rest position where the handle is pivoted to an upper position away from the body, the handle has a pre-release position where the handle is pivoted down toward the body, and the handle has a re-set position intermediate between the rest position and the pre-release positions;

a striker movable within the body and linked to the handle through a lever wherein pressing the handle toward the body causes the striker to rise in the body;

wherein the handle presses a lever tab at a contact point near a rear of the lever, and the lever pivots about a lever pivot axis within the body;

a power spring within the body is linked to the striker wherein raising the striker causes the power spring to deflect and store energy;

wherein at a predetermined position of the handle, the lever suddenly releases the striker and the striker ejects a staple out of a staple loading chamber as the power spring returns to a rest position;

a re-set spring pushes upward upon the lever at a rear portion of the lever behind the lever pivot axis, in the re-set position of the handle the re-set spring causes a downward bias upon a front portion of the lever at the lever pivot axis; and

wherein the re-set spring engages the lever at a position rearward of the lever axis, and the re-set spring engages the lever rearward of the contact point.

9. The stapling device of claim 8, wherein a re-set stroke of the lever includes a first step where the lever front distal end moves from above the striker downward to a top edge of the striker, a second step where the lever front distal end moves to behind the striker, and a third step where the lever front distal end moves forward into a slot in the striker;

the re-set spring includes a torsion spring, a lower arm of the torsion spring pivotally attached to the body, an upper arm pivotally attached to the lever, a coil of the re-set spring positioned forward from the attachments of the upper and lower arms and movable with the body;

wherein the re-set spring pushes upward upon the lever during the first step and second steps, and the re-set spring pushes upward and forward upon the lever during the third step; and

wherein the coil of the re-set spring moves rearward as the arms of the reset spring move apart during the re-set stroke, the coil of the re-set spring contacts a rib of the body during the third step of the re-set stroke.

10. The stapling device of claim 9, wherein the lower arm includes a bent segment that extends into a hole of the body, the hole being larger in diameter than a wire diameter of the re-set spring and defining a pivot axis for the lower spring arm, and wherein the bent segment has at its distal end a further bent portion, the bent portion pressing into a wall of the hole.

11. A stapling device, comprising:

a body and a handle pivotably attached to the body wherein the handle has a rest position where the handle is pivoted to a farthest position away from the body, the handle has a pre-release position where the handle is pivoted toward the body, and the handle has a re-set position intermediate between the rest position and the pre-release positions;

a striker is movable within the body and is linked to a front end of a lever at a centrally disposed striker slot, and a rear end of the lever is linked to the handle wherein pressing the handle toward the body causes the striker to rise in the body;

a power spring within the body is linked to the striker at a front end of the power spring whereby raising the striker causes the power spring to deflect and store energy;

at a predetermined position of the handle the lever suddenly de-links from the striker and the striker ejects a staple out of a staple loading chamber as the power spring returns to a rest position;

wherein the power spring includes two co-axial helical coils that pivot about a spring axis, with the coils spaced apart from each other, and the lever passes between the coils;

wherein the lever includes a lever pivot axis with an elongated slot wherein the pivot axis is pivotably and slidably mounted to the body, the front of the lever being in front of the helical coils, the rear of the lever being behind the helical coils, and the lever being nested between the two helical coils;

wherein the helical coils of the power spring terminate in two parallel, forward extending arms including a spring end of each arm, the spring ends extend into openings in the striker, the openings being to each side and below the striker slot; and

wherein the spring arms are spaced apart, and an impact force from the arms of the power spring against a bumper stop is directed toward outer portions the body, and the bumper is supported by a ceiling of the staple loading chamber.

12. The stapling device of claim 11, wherein the striker is tallest at a central portion of a top edge of the striker, whereby the lever front end is near a top most interior of the body, and an interior of the handle is immediately above the top edge of the striker in an uppermost position of the striker.

13. The stapling device of claim 12, wherein a rear portion of the lever is out of plane from the front portion, a bend being between the front portion and the rear portion of the lever.

14. The stapling device of claim 13, wherein a re-set spring is positioned at the rear portion of the lever.

15. The stapling device of claim 11, wherein the lever axis is defined by a pin, and the pin fits into a cavity of the body with a cylindrical sleeve of the body surrounding the pin, and wherein the sleeve defines the spring axis, and a wire of the power spring slides against the sleeve as the spring is deflected.

16. The stapling device of claim 15, wherein the lever axis is positioned immediately below the spring axis.

17. A stapling device, comprising:

a body and a handle pivotably attached to the body, a staple loading chamber, a track within the loading chamber to hold and guide staples in the stapling device, a staple pusher to urge staples on the track toward a front of the stapling device, a striker to eject staples at a front of the loading chamber out of the stapling device, wherein a pusher spring is attached at one end to the track, and at a further end to the pusher, a diameter of the pusher spring fits within an internal area enclosed by the track and the pusher upon the track;

a tab extends into a channel of the loading chamber, a rib of the loading chamber is under the channel;

a bottom of the staple track is lowered at a downward protruding elongated crease whereby the track protrudes below a level of the tab to a level of the rib, the crease providing an enlarged internal area that fits a diameter of the pusher spring.

18. The stapler of claim 17, wherein the pusher includes a centrally aligned upward protruding arcuate hump, the hump being co-axial with an extended direction of the pusher spring, the hump providing an enlarged internal area that fits the diameter of the pusher spring.

19. The stapler of claim 18, wherein the staple loading chamber includes an elongated channel in a ceiling of the loading chamber, and the hump protrudes into the channel.

20. A stapling device for dispensing staples, comprising:

a handle pivotably attached to a housing body;

a striker slidably disposed in the body proximate to a front end thereof;

a track disposed beneath the striker within the body for holding the staples, wherein the striker is biased to move toward the track to impact the staples;

a lever having a front end, a back end, a pivot axis therebetween, wherein the pivot axis pivotably engages the body, the handle selectively engages the lever, and the lever front end selectively lifts the striker against the striker bias;

a re-set spring includes a coiled torsion spring including a first arm and a second arm, the re-set spring urging the lever back end away from the track and lowering the lever front end to re-engage the striker;

wherein the re-set spring pivotably engages the body at a first end of the first arm, and the re-set spring presses the lever at a second end of the second arm; and

the re-set spring second end includes a single angled segment at a distal end of the second arm, the angled segment extends in a direction transverse to a length of the second arm, the angled segment extending from a first side of the lever to a second side of the lever, the angled segment being spaced from the first end of the re-set spring at the first side of the lever, the angled segment is further spaced from the first end of the re-set spring at the second side of the lever, and the second arm is drawn toward the first side of the lever as the angled segment presses the lever.

21. The stapling device of claim 20, wherein the first end of the first arm is below the second arm, and the re-set spring presses upward upon the lever.

22. The stapling device of claim 20, wherein a hole of the lever extends from the first side of the lever to the second side of the lever, and the angled segment passes through the hole.

23. The stapling device of claim 20, wherein a handle engages the lever, a rib of the handle is spaced from the lever first side, and the second arm is drawn away from the rib.

24. A desktop stapler, comprising:

a body with a handle pivotably attached to the body, the handle including a pressing area near a front end of the handle;

a base pivotably attached to the body toward a rear end of the stapler, wherein the body extends forward from the pivotal attachment in a substantially parallel relationship above the base in a closed stapler position, and in the closed stapler position, the handle has a rest position wherein the handle is moved to a farthest position away from the base, and the handle has a pre-release position wherein the handle is moved toward the base;

a re-set spring biasing the handle toward the rest position;

a power spring within the body linked to the handle wherein pressing the handle at the pressing area from the rest position to the pre-release position causes the power spring to deflect and store energy;

a striker linked to the power spring, wherein at the pre-release position of the handle, the striker under bias from the power spring ejects a staple out of a staple loading chamber; and

wherein the handle at the pressing area moves about 0.9 to 1 inch inclusive toward the base as the handle moves from the rest position to the pre-release position.

25. The desktop stapler of claim 24, wherein the striker includes a pre-release position above the staple loading chamber, a lowest striker position in front of the staple loading chamber, wherein the striker moves toward the base about one half inch between the striker pre-release position and the striker lowest position.

26. The desktop stapler of claim 24, wherein a lever releasably engages the striker, and the lever releases the striker at the pre-release position of the handle.

27. A desktop stapler, comprising:

a body with a handle pivotably attached to the body, the handle including a pressing area near a front end of the handle;

a base pivotably attached to the body toward a rear end of the stapler, the stapler having a closed stapler position wherein the body extends forward from the pivotal attachment in a substantially parallel relationship above the base, and the handle has a rest position wherein the handle is moved to a farthest position away from the base, and the handle has a pre-release position where the handle is moved toward the base, including a handle pressing distance defined by the distance between the pressing area at the rest position and the pressing area at the pre-release position;

a re-set spring biasing the handle toward the rest position;

a power spring within the body linked to the handle wherein pressing the handle at the pressing area from the rest position to the pre-release position causes the power spring to deflect and store energy;

a striker linked to the power spring, wherein at the pre-release position of the handle, the striker under bias from the power spring ejects a staple out of a staple loading chamber;

wherein the striker includes a pre-release position above the staple loading chamber and a lowest striker position in front of the staple loading chamber, and wherein the pressing distance is about double the distance that the striker moves toward the base between the striker pre-release position and the striker lowest position.

28. The desktop staple of claim 27, wherein the handle at the pressing area moves about 0.9 to 1 inch inclusive toward the base as the handle moves from the rest position to the pre-release position.

29. The desktop stapler of claim 27, wherein a lever releasably engages the striker, and the lever releases the striker at the pre-release position of the striker.