U.S. patent number 3,583,622 [Application Number 04/809,098] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-08 for stapler.
Invention is credited to Robert Frank Graeff.
United States Patent |
3,583,622 |
Graeff |
June 8, 1971 |
STAPLER
Abstract
A stapler of the type in which a sequence of generally U-shaped
staples that are lightly bonded together are ejected one-by-one as
the handle of the stapler is moved downwardly, with said staples at
all times being urged forwardly in a magazine forming a part of the
stapler by a spring-loaded follower. The present stapler is
characterized by a body that includes a staple magazine, handle,
base, and anvil, all of which are formed from an elongate blank of
resilient, but deformable material after said blank has been
subjected to a sequence of bending operations. Due to the
structural simplicity thereof, and the low cost of the material
from which it is formed, the stapler of the present invention may
be retailed complete with a full stock of staples, and may be
discarded when the original supply of staples contained therein is
depleted.
Inventors: |
Graeff; Robert Frank (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Family
ID: |
25200532 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/809,098 |
Filed: |
March 21, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
227/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25C
5/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B25C
5/02 (20060101); B25C 5/00 (20060101); B25o
005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;227/120,129,134,139,156
;206/56DF |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Custer, Jr.; Granville Y.
Claims
I claim:
1. A stapler characterized by the body portion thereof which
includes a base, handle, staple magazine, and staple ejector, all
of which are fabricated from a single piece of metallic
material.
2. A stapler as defined in claim 1 that includes a spring-loaded
staple follower which is slidably movable relative to said
magazine, which follower is characterized by being fabricated from
a single piece of metallic material.
3. In a stapler of the type wherein a sequence of inverted U-shaped
staples are disposed that are lightly bonded together and are at
all times urged forwardly by a spring-loaded staple follower, which
stapler includes a body fabricated from a single, elongate,
generally rectangular strip of metallic material having some
resiliency, but when subjected to bending operations is permanently
deformed, which body is characterized by:
a. a first longitudinal section of said strip that is bent to
define an elongate magazine in which said staples are contained,
with said magazine having an opening formed therein through which
said staples can be consecutively ejected;
b. second and third longitudinal sections of said strip that are
bent to define a generally U-shaped handle which supports said
magazine;
c. fourth and fifth sections of said strip that are bent to define
a base and anvil, with said base being disposed under said magazine
and handle, which anvil is located above said base and in alignment
with said opening in said magazine; and
d. a slit defined part of said second section which is bent to
define an elongate pressure exerting member that is in alignment
with said magazine for sequentially ejecting said staples through
said opening to permit the legs of each of said ejected staple to
be bent inwardly towards one another upon contact with said anvil
when said handle is moved downwardly relative to said base.
4. A stapler as defined in claim 3 wherein a pair of transversely
spaced slits, a pair of transversely spaced notches, and a recess
is formed in the first end of said first section, which recess is
in alignment with the central portion of said first section, with
first portions of said first sections on opposite sides of said
central portion and between said notches and slits being bent to
provide sidewalls that partially define said magazine, and with
second portions of said first section forwardly of said notches
being bent inwardly towards one another to provide a split end wall
that forms a part of said magazine, which split end wall and
forward end of said central portion cooperatively define said
opening that is elongate in configuration, transversely positioned,
and slightly wider than the thickness of one of said staples.
5. A stapler as defined in claim 4 wherein the upper parts of said
end walls are bent rearwardly to define a stop and the lower end of
said pressure exerting member is bent to define a forwardly
extending tab that is disposed in said magazine under said stop,
which tab when it contacts said stop serves to limit the upward
movement of said handle relative to said magazine.
6. A stapler as defined in claim 4 wherein the upper longitudinal
parts of said sidewalls are bent inwardly towards one another to
define two parallel, laterally spaced flanges forming a part of
said magazine and prevent inadvertent displacement of said staples
therefrom should said stapler be placed in an inverted
position.
7. A stapler as defined in claim 6 wherein said follower is
disposed in said magazine and is slidably and longitudinally guided
therein due to contact with said central portion, sidewalls, and
flanges.
8. A stapler as defined in claim 4 wherein said follower further
includes:
e. an elongate cuplike member slidably disposed between said
sidewalls and extending around said sequence of staples, which
member has a forward open end and a closed rear end, with said rear
end being in engagement with the rearmost of said staples; and
f. two laterally spaced channel-shaped guides which extend
outwardly from said cuplike member and slidably engage said
sidewalls and the under surface of said central portion.
9. A stapler as defined in claim 8 which further includes:
g. an elongate tensioned spring connected to said rear end of said
cup-shaped member and the forward part of said central portion to
at all times urge said cup-shaped member forwardly to maintain one
of said staples over said opening.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
1. Field of the Invention
A stapler in which both the body thereof and the stapler follower
may be formed from sheet metal blanks by a series of bending
operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices for sequentially ejecting wire staples of a generally
U-shaped configuration have been used for many years. However, such
prior staplers are formed from an excessive number of parts that
are not only expensive to produce, but time consuming to assemble
into the completed unit. Due to the number of parts and assembly
cost thereof, staplers available heretofore must be retailed at a
substantial price, thus making them out of reach for many potential
customers, particularly students.
The present invention provides a stapler that has but three parts,
two of which may be formed from inexpensive sheet metal blanks by a
sequence of bending operations. Assembly of the present stapler is
inexpensive as well as of most simple design, whereby the device
may be retailed at a sufficiently low price as to permit discard of
the stapler when the stock of staples contained therein at the time
of purchase is depleted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A stapler in which the staple follower and the body thereof
includes a staple magazine, handle, base and anvil that may be
formed from two sheet metal blanks by a series of bending
operations.
A major object of the present invention is to provide a first form
of stapler of such simplicity and low cost that it may be retailed,
complete with staples, at a sufficiently low price as to permit the
first form of stapler to be discarded when the stock of staples
therein is depleted.
Another object of the invention is to supply a second form of
stapler that is of far simpler construction than previously
available devices of this nature, and one that may be refilled with
staples after the initial supply contained therein is depleted.
Yet another object of the invention is to furnish first and second
forms of staplers, the staple follower and body of each of which is
formed from sheet metal blanks by a sequence of bending operations,
with the assembly cost of both forms being at a minimum due to the
relatively few component parts comprising same.
A still further object of the invention is to provide first and
second forms of a stapler, which while simple in construction and
operation and correspondingly inexpensive to produce, provide
staplers that are completely satisfactory in practical use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an elongate blank used in the
formation of the body of the first form of stapler;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 1 after a
first longitudinal section thereof has been subjected to a bending
operation to partially define a staple magazine;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the blank shown in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4--8 inclusive show successive side elevational views of the
blank illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as it is subjected to successive
bending operations to transform the same into a complete stapler
body including a staple magazine, handle, base, and anvil;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the staple follower used in the
first form of the device;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the complete first form of
stapler;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional
view of the first form of stapler, taken on the line 11-11 of FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second form of the stapler;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the stapler follower used in the
second form of the device;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional
view of the second form of stapler, taken the line 14-14 of FIG.
12;
FIG. 15 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the second form of
stapler, taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the second form of stapler being
filled with a sequence of staples;
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a container for storing
staples and dispensing the same into the second form of the device;
and
FIG. 18 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the container taken
on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The body portion B of the first form A of the stapler shown in FIG.
10 is fabricated from an elongate, generally rectangular blank B',
as illustrated in FIG. 1. The blank B' is formed from a metal or
metal alloy possessing some resiliency, but which may be
permanently deformed when stressed beyond its elastic limit, such
as light sheet steel.
The blank B' is subdivided by longitudinally spaced, transverse
first, second, third, and fourth bending zones 10, 12, 14 and 16,
respectively, into first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sections
C, D. E, F, and G, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
By the application of pressure thereto, a longitudinally extending,
centrally disposed rib 18 is formed in the first section C. Two
transversely aligned, laterally spaced slits 20 are formed in the
rear portion of first section C, as best seen in FIG. 1. Two
transversely aligned, laterally spaced notches 22 are formed in the
forward portion of first section C, and a rectangular recess 24
extends rearwardly in this section from the center of the first end
26 thereof.
The side edges of recess 24 and the inner extremities of slits 20
are in longitudinal central portion 27 of first section C. The
longitudinal sides of the central portion 27 are indicated by
bending lines 28 in FIG. 1. When first portions of section C
outwardly from bending lines 28 and forwardly from slits 20 are
bend upwardly to be disposed in a direction normal to central
portion 27, they define the side walls 30 shown in FIG. 10. The
upper longitudinal parts of sidewalls 30 are bent along lines 32 to
define two parallel, laterally spaced flanges 34, the purpose of
which will later be explained.
Second portions are provided in first section C forwardly of
notches 22, which are bent inwardly toward one another along
bending lines 36 to define a split end wall 38, as best seen in
FIG. 10. The upper portions of the split end wall 38 are bent
rearwardly along bending lines 40 to define stops 42, as
illustrated in FIG. 11.
The rear faces 44 of the split end wall 38 are forwardly spaced
from the forward edge of the central portion 27 and cooperate
therewith to define a narrow transverse opening 46. The opening 46
is slightly wider than the thickness of one of the inverted
U-shaped wire staples H to permit but a single staple at a time to
be forcibly ejected therethrough, as will be explained in detail
hereinafter.
The staples H are lightly bonded together in a longitudinal
sequence, as shown in FIG. 11. The central portion 27, sidewalls
30, flanges 34, and split end wall 38 cooperatively define an
elongate magazine J in which the staples H are contained. The
lateral spacing between the free edges of the flanges 34 is less
than the width of the staples H, and as a result, the staples will
not be inadvertently displaced from the magazine J when the first
form of stapler is held in an inverted position.
A staple follower K is shown in FIG. 9, which includes a web 48
having two laterally spaced legs 50 projecting forwardly therefrom.
The dimensions of follower K are such as to permit it to be
slidably movable in magazine J. Two laterally spaced slits (not
shown) extend upwardly in web 48, with that portion of the web
between the slits being so formed as to define a hook 52. Hook 52
is connected to the rear end of a tensioned helical spring 54 that
extends longitudinally through magazine J. The forward end of a
hook 56 attached to the forward end of spring 54 engages a second
notch 57 (FIG. 1) formed in the forward part of central portion 27.
The spring-loaded follower K at all times urges the sequence of
staples H forwardly in the magazine J to dispose the foremost
staple over the opening 46. Assembly of the staples H, follower K,
and spring 54 in the magazine J is preferably carried out prior to
completion of the bending of the balance of the blank B'.
A generally U-shaped slit 59 is formed in the second section D
(FIG. 1), with the material within the confines of the slit being
bent downwardly relative to the rest of the section, as may best be
seen in FIGS. 5--8 to define a pressure exerting member 60. The
lower extremity of the member 60 has a centrally disposed extension
that is bent outwardly to provide a tab 62 situated under the stop
42, as illustrated in FIG. 11. A The lower edges of the member 60
on each side of tab 62 can forcefully contact the upper portion of
a staple H to drive the latter when the handle 58 is manually moved
downwardly. A transversely positioned cavity 64 is formed in the
fifth section G that is slightly wider than the width of one staple
H, also for reasons which will later be explained herein.
After the blank B' has been bent in the manner described, the blank
is subjected to further bending operations during which the
sections D and E are bent one above the other at the bending zones
10 and 12 to provide a handle 58 from which the pressure exerting
member 60 depends, as shown in FIG. 5. The blank B' is subsequently
bent at the third bending zone 14 to position the fourth and fifth
sections F and G under the magazine J to provide a base as shown in
FIG. 7. The fifth section G is then bent rearwardly to overlie the
forward portion of the section F, and in this position serves as an
anvil, with the cavity 64 facing upwardly. The cavity 64 and the
opening 46 are in substantial vertical alignment, and when the
handle 58 is moved downwardly relative the base, the pressure
exerting member 60 forces the foremost staple H from the magazine J
through the opening 46 to permit the ends of the staple to be bent
towards one another when they forcefully contact the cavity 64.
In use, the operation of the first form A of the invention is the
same as that of a present-day conventional stapler and need not be
described herein. Due to the structural simplicity of the form A
and the low production cost thereof, the stapler is particularly
well adapted to be retailed at such a low price as to permit
discard thereof after the stock of staples H initially contained
therein has been depleted.
The body B" of the second form L of the invention illustrated in
FIG. 12 is identical to that of the first form A thereof, except
that the flanges 34' thereof extend rearwardly only a relatively
short distance along the sidewalls 30', and situated below the
upper edges thereof. Except for the body B", those elements of form
L common to the first form A of the invention are identified in the
drawings by the same numerals employed in describing the first
form, but to which a prime has been added.
A second form of stapler follower K' is shown in FIG. 13 that is
used in the second form L of the invention. The follower K' can be
fabricated from a flat sheet of metallic material that has been so
slit that portions thereof may be forced into a configuration
including an elongate top 68, two longitudinally extending
sidewalls 70, two downwardly extending rear walls 72 which are
separated by a slit 74, and two channel-shaped guides 76 which
extend outwardly from the top.
The forward extremity of the second follower K' is open. The
lateral spacing of side walls 70 is such that the second follower
extends around the sequence of staples H' in the second form of the
device, with the guides 76 slidably engaging the side walls 30' and
lower surface of the central portion 27' (FIG. 12). The second
follower K' is urged forwardly by a spring (not shown) of the same
structure as spring 54. The spring (not shown), like spring 54, is
provided with hooks (not shown) at each end thereof, one of which
engages the forward extremity of the slit 74, and the other, the
second notch 57'.
The second follower K' may be moved rearwardly (FIG. 16) to receive
a sequence of staples H' in the magazine J'. Staples H' are
conveniently stored for use in an elongate body M', as illustrated
in FIGS. 17 and 18, in which body two offset oppositely disposed
U-shaped passages 78 are formed that receive the staples H'. A
metallic sheath 80 may be provided that extends around body M', as
shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The staples H' are dispensed from the
body M' by disposing the body in the position illustrated in FIG.
16. A stock of these staples H' may then be ejected individually
from the body M' into the magazine J'.
During the loading operation the pressure exerting member 60 is
deformed rearwardly to disengage tab 62 from stop 42. The pressure
exerting member may now be moved upwardly to permit staples H to be
placed in the magazine J' as shown in FIG. 16.
* * * * *