Stapler and guide assembly for same

Details Stapler and guide assembly for same Stapler and guide assembly for same

1998-10-27

2001-05-29

Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)

Elongated-member-driving apparatus

With means to support member and/or work relative to driver

Work support

C227S028000, C227S080000, C227S141000, C227S151000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237828

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to stapling sheets of material such as paper. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved stapler using staple guides.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a conventional stapler or stitcher, a pre-formed staple, or wire concurrently formed into a U-shape, is provided. Two staple prongs defining the U-shape are driven through a stack of paper and into an opposing surface. The opposing surface and a staple driving surface compress the stack of paper while the staple prongs are driven into the stack. Once the prongs have pierced the paper to contact the opposing surface, channels in the opposing surface operate to fold the staple prongs, thus securely cinching the stack of paper. In such a stapler, the length of the prongs limits the thickness of the paper stack that can be so secured. If the stack is too thick, the prongs will not extend sufficiently through the paper to firmly cinch the stack. If the stack is too thin, the excessively long prongs will meet the channels of the opposing surface and fold without contacting the associated surface of the stack. The resulting staple will only loosely bind the sheets of paper, leading to chaffing and tearing of the stapled stack of sheets. Thus a disadvantage of conventional staplers is that varied stapling applications require different length staples, and often different staplers.
A further disadvantage to these staplers, particularly those designed for relatively thick stacks of paper, is that each staple prong must have sufficient axial rigidity to pierce the complete stack, regardless of the strength required to permanently bind the stapled stack. Further, in order to pierce thicker stacks of material, each staple must have a sharpened, or “chisel” point to ensure good piercing. Where a concurrently formed wire is used, forming a sharpened point may not be practical. Thus additional design constraints are placed upon the staples which have no bearing on the strength of the final attachment.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a stapler which can operate on stacks of sheet material having widely varied thicknesses without any compromise in the strength of the stapled attachment. It is further desired that the invention operate with any staple adequate to maintain the final attachment, without the need for the axial strength and sharpness required by customary staples to pierce sheets of material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention there is provided a stapler for attaching sheets of material. The invention can operate with any type of staple, and further will provide a secure attachment regardless of the thickness of a stack of materials being stapled.
In the preferred embodiment, the stapler includes a base for securing a staple, a staple guide, a ram for driving the staple firmly into a stack of sheet material, a clamp for maintaining pressure against the ram during the ramming operation, a staple cutter for cutting the staple to a desired length once the stack of material is clamped, and a staple cincher for folding the cut ends of the staple into a secure position.
In one embodiment, the staple guide comprises a pair of cylindrical shells, one shell impaling a sheet of material on each prong of the staple. In another embodiment, the staple guide comprises a split guide which can open for horizontal removal from the staple prongs. In this embodiment, several staple guides may be operated in a cascading fashion to speed the process of loading a staple with sheets of material. In another embodiment, the staple guide may be omitted in favor of pre-drilled holes which are aligned with the staple prongs.
The stapler can also include a dimpler which places dimples in sheets of material to assist in the proper alignment of the staple prongs while they pierce each sheet.


REFERENCES:
patent: 218143 (1879-08-01), Shellenberger
patent: 221979 (1879-11-01), Shellenberger
patent: 360178 (1887-03-01), Snedeker
patent: 1094588 (1914-04-01), O'Brien
patent: 1612870 (1927-01-01), Leschhorn
patent: 2585807 (1952-02-01), Mackechnie, Jr.
patent: 4175314 (1979-11-01), Spehrley, Jr.
patent: 4378085 (1983-03-01), McVeigh
patent: 4546910 (1985-10-01), Logtens
patent: 4593847 (1986-06-01), Hagemann
patent: 4792077 (1988-12-01), Faltin
patent: 4844319 (1989-07-01), Kurosawa
patent: 5004142 (1991-04-01), Olesen
patent: 5029745 (1991-07-01), Akizawa et al.
patent: 5092829 (1992-03-01), Gerber
patent: 5586710 (1996-12-01), Golicz
patent: 5976290 (1999-11-01), MacDonald et al.
patent: 4020355 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 0009964 (1980-04-01), None
patent: 0322906 (1989-07-01), None
patent: 2019764 (1979-11-01), None
patent: 2024083 (1980-01-01), None
patent: WO90/08015 (1990-07-01), None
Spehrley, Jr., Charles J., Xerox Disclosure Journal, “Semi-Active Clincher,” vol. 8, No. 3 May/Jun. 1983, pp. 187-188.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Stapler and guide assembly for same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Stapler and guide assembly for same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stapler and guide assembly for same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2548736