GB2351034A

GB2351034A - Combined hole punch and stapler

Info

Publication number: GB2351034A
Application number: GB0004911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Edwin Audley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-12
Filing date: 2000-03-02
Publication date: 2000-12-20
Also published as: GB9905721D0; GB0004911D0

Abstract

A unit combining a hole punch and stapler has a first lever 106 to operate a plurality of punches 113 and a second lever 109 to operate the stapler. The first lever bridges over the second lever and they are arranged to operate independently. The front edge of the first lever may be relieved to avoid contact with the second lever and side portions 110 of the first lever may contact the base to limit its motion for the same reason. Staple removing jaws 112 may also be provided.

Description

2351034 P60890 - COMBINED HOLE PUNCH AND STAPLER The present invention

relates to a device which combines the functions of an office paper hole punch and stapler.

Devices for punching holes in the margins of papers to enable them to be kept in ring binders are wellknown, as are devices for inserting and removing staples from papers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which is capable of both punching holes in a document, or documents, and inserting staples into a plurality of papers.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for punching holes in the margins of papers and inserting stapes into a plurality of papers, including a base member having at least two holes therein separated by the conventional distances between the rings of a binder and an anvil for deforming staples to cause them to clamp together a plurality of papers, a plurality of punches adapted to co-operate with the said holes in the base member, a first lever adapted to operate the punches, an upper feed head and reservoir for staples and a second lever contained within the first lever for bringing the upper feed head into contact with the anvil to force staples through a plurality of papers passed therebetween and deform the staples to clamp the 2 said papers together and means for preventing at least an initial operation of the first lever from causing the operation of the second lever, the arrangement also being such that the operation of the second lever does not cause the operation of the first lever.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is an end elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a combined hole punch and stapler embodying the invention consists of a base member (100) in which there are two holes (101) separated by a distance equal to that of the marginal holes in a standard A4 sheet of paper intended for use with a two-ring binder. A projection (102) of the base member has a rotatable two position anvil (103) for deforming a wire paper staple (not shown) inwardly or outwardly, as preferred. Two side members (104) attached to the base member (100) carry a fulcrum pin (105) for a twinhole punch mechanism of a known type. The hole punch mechanism, which includes a pair of punches (113) aligned with the holes (101), is operated by a channel-section lever (106) which is pivoted on the fulcrum pin (105), in the conventional manner. The base member (100) has a stepped configuration to provide a region (107) to accept a number of sheets of paper in which holes are to be punched simultaneously. Also an adjustable paper guide (108) projects from one side of the base member (100).

- 3 - Positioned within the operating lever (106) of the hole punch part of the apparatus is the staple punch reservoir and operating lever (109) of a conventional stapler. The stapler operating lever (109) also is pivoted on the base member (100). In order that the operation of the hole punch does not effect the operation of the stapler, the sides (110) of the hole punch lever (106) are arranged to contact the base member (100) before the underside of the web portion of the hole punch operating lever (106) makes contact with the upper surface (111) of the stapler operating lever.

To improve the rigidity of the hole punch operating lever (106), it incorporates a turned-down front edge, which cannot be seen in the drawing. This front edge of the hole punch operating lever incorporates a relief providing clearance for the stapler operating lever (109), again to ensure that there is no contact between the two operating levers (106) and (109), so enabling the two components of the apparatus to be used separately.

The hole punch part of the apparatus includes a pair of staple extractor jaws (112).

The foregoing is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention. Many variations in detail are possible. For example, in other embodiments the downward pivoting of the hole punch operating lever (106) may be limited in some other way to prevent its web portion contacting the upper surface (111) of the staple operating lever (109) when it is depressed.

Conventionally, the punches (113) are guided within apertures provided in inner flanges on the side members (104), and downward movement of the punches (113) and the lever (106) is limited by abutment of these flanges by, for example, a punch operating bar, extending underneath the lever (106), or an enlargement at the top end of each punch (113).

Claims

A device for punching holes in the margins of papers and inserting staples into a plurality of papers, including a base member having at least two holes therein separated by the conventional distances between the rings of a ring binder and an anvil for deforming staples to cause them to clamp together a plurality of papers, a plurality of punches adapted to co-operate with the said holes in the base member, a first lever adapted to operate the punches, an upper feed head and reservoir for staples, a second lever contained within the first lever for bringing the upper feed head into contact with the anvil to force staples through a plurality of papers passed therebetween and deform the staples to clamp the said papers together and means for preventing operation of the first lever from causing operation of the second lever, the arrangement also being such that the operation of the second lever does not cause the operation of the first lever.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first lever is of channel section form having a web portion and respective side portions.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the side portions of the first lever are arranged to contact the base member before the web portion of the first lever contacts an upper 6 surf ace of the second lever thereby preventing operation of the first lever causing operation of the second lever.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first lever has a down-turned front edge portion provided with a relief through which the second lever extends.
5. A combined hole punch and stapler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.