US2940727A - Staple remover - Google Patents

Description

June M, E960 s. SEGAL.

STAPLE REMOVER Original Filed April '7. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. SEGAL STAPLE REMOVER `fame 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April '7. 1953 lll anniv/lill l Ja/mud ya S. SEGAL.

STAPLE REMOVER june M, 960

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed April 7, 1955 lvwaztor wd @Qq/@ flifedf F31@ ,Patent STAPLE REMOVER Samuel Segal, Apt. A, 441 West End Ave., New York, N.Y.

Original application April 7, 1953, Ser. No. 347,215, n ow Patent lflo. 2,776,109, dated Jan. 1, 1957.. Diglzdlegszslnd this application Nov. 13, 1956, Ser. No.

8 Claims. (Cl. 254-28) This invention relates to a staple remover particularly adapted to remove st aplesv that are clinched through a plurality of sheets of paper or similar material, or embedded in a -wood surface such asa counter, shelf, or drawing board. A f This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 347,215, tiled April 7, 1953, which issued as Patent No. 2,776,109 on January 1, 1957.

' It is an object of this invention to provide a staple remover that can eciency remove staples clinched through a plurality of sheets of paper without tearing or mutilating the sheets.

Another object/is to provide a staple remover that works eiiciently'V ywith staples of dilferent widths.

It is a further object to provide a. staple remover that may be operated very rapidly without requiring excess caution.

A further object is to provide a staple remover with means for quickly and easily removing any staples that may be caught on either jaw of the remover after a staple removing operation.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating two preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the, line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. l; Y Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the staple` removing jaws in closed position immediately after the staple removing operation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the operation of the nger for removing staples from the jaw of the device;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the staple remover;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 8, showing the jaws of the staple remover in closed position;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 8, showing one jaw held in inoperative position;

Fig. 11 .is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 9, with one jaw held in inoperative position; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken along the lines 1212 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, the staple remover comprises a pair of jaw members 2 and 3, pivoted together adjacent one end by a hinge pin 4. The jaw 2 is channel shaped and has a back wall 5 and two side walls 6 and 7 which extend inwardly towards the jaw 3. The jaw 3 has a back wall 8 and sidewalls 9 ice and 10 extending inwardly towards the jaw 2. The hinge pin 4 extends through the side walls 6, 7, 9 and 10. The

. members v1,2 and 13 are each provided with a pair of laterally projecting wing portions 15 adjacent the fr ee end of the jaws to facilitate manipulation of the jaws:

The frame members 12 and 13 are preferably formed of plastic, but may be of any other suitable material.'

The side walls 6 and 7 ofthe jaw member 2 each terminates at its free end in a claw 16 having an inwardly extending pointed staple engaging end 17. An oppositely disposed claw 18, provided with a back wall 19 and a pair of inwardly extending side walls 20 and 21, is pivoted to the jaw member 2 yabout midway of lits length by a hinge pin 22 which extends through the. side walls .6, 7, 20, and 21. The side walls 20 and 21 of the claw 18 are in the same planes as the side Iwalls 9 and 10, which terminate approximately midway of the length of jaw member 3, to provide clearance for the claw.18. The side walls 20 and 21 each terminate in an inwardly extending pointed staple engaging end 23. A spring 24, coiled around the hinge pin 22, has one end bearing against the back wall 19 of claw 18 to urge the claw 18 outwardly, so that its back edge is normally held against the back wall 8 of the jaw member 3.

The method of operating the staple remover to remove Ya staple from a plurality of sheets of paper or similar material is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The pointed ends 17 of claw 16 are positioned in engagement with one edge of a staple 25 clinched through a plurality of sheets 26, with the bottom edge of the claw 16 engaging the top surface of the uppermost sheet. The frame members 12` and 13 are grasped between the thumb and foreiinger, which are positioned at the wing portions 15, and are pressed together against the action of the spring 24. The pointed ends 23 of claw 18 are moved into engagement with the opposite edge of the staple, and continued inward pressure against the jaws 2 and 3 causes the pointed ends of the claws 16 and 18 to pass each other, thereby forcing the staple to ride upwardly along the curved upper edges of the claws. the free end of clalw 18 is greater than the distance from pivot 22 to the free end of claw 16. This difference in the length of the claws also causes the ends 17 of claw 16 to move vertically relative to the ends 23 of claw 18, the claw 16 moving upwardly abovethe sheets 26 while the claw 18 remains in engagement with the sheets. This relative movement o f claw 16 tends to straighten out the legs of the staple 25 while the sheets are held down, thereby preventing tearing or mutilation of the sheets during the staple removing operation.

The staples removed from the sheets sometimes bind against the outer surfaces of the claw 16, and the presence of a plurality of such staples will interfere with the normally rapid operation of the staple remover. The staples may be pushed olf the claw with a linger nail, pencil, or vsimilar implement, but I have provided a mechanical finger which facilitates such removal without interfering with the efficient use of the staple remover. A linger 27 formed of a strip of metal fitting between the side walls 6 and 7 is provided with a pair of ears 28 bent at right angles thereto by means of which it is pivotally mounted on the hinge pin 22. The finger 27 is positioned between the end of spring 24 and the back wall 5 so that it is normally held against the wall 5 by the spring,

The distance from the pivot 22 to'l The free end 29 of the linger projects beyond the adjacent end ofthe jaw 2 'so that 'it may be moved 'inwardly by iinger pressure against the action of spring 24. The iinger 27 .moves between the side walls 6 and 7 past the pointed ends `17 to -sweep any staples from the claw 1'6. A's soon a's the en'd 29 is released the spring 24K/forces it outwardly against the back wall 5. Instead of using a flat metal strip .for the `finger it is possible 'to extend the end of spring '24 to make it project beyond the end of the jaw. To overcome the inconvenience that would be caused bythe single length of wire, it is preferably bent to provide a loop so that the portion engaged by the users Ztinger lpresents a smooth end.y

In Ithe embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to ll, three jaw .members '30, 3'1 and 32 are pvotallysecured 'together 'by a hingepin 33. The ljaw 30 comprises 'a back wall '34 and twofinwardly extending side walls 35. The side. walls 3 5 are each provided with an integral stop member 35' to limit the inward pivotal movement of the jaws. The jaw 31 has a back wall 36 and two side walls '37. The side walls 35 and 37 terminate at their free ends in pointed claws 3'5" and 37 adapted to engage one edge of a staple to be removed.

The side walls 35 are each provided with a round aperture, and the side walls 37 are each provided with an elongated aperture 33 'for the hinge pin 33, sov that the jaws 30 and 31 are slidable longitudinally relative to each other. When the staple to be removed is too short to be engaged by the claws 37' the jaw 31 is moved upwardly relative to the jaw 3!V into its inoperative position. The back wall 34 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses '34 Vand 34, and the back wall 36 is provided ywith a projection 36 adapted to selecf.

tively engage the recesses to hold the jaw member 3'1 in either operative or in inoperative positionv It is obvious that the projection may be on the baci; wall 314 and the recesses .in the back wall 36, if desired. Side walls 35 are spaced apart less than the distance between side' walls 37, so that jaw 3() may be positioned within jaw 31 with side walls 35 each spaced from side walls 37. The jaw 32 has a backwall 38 and two side walls 39 extending inwardly towards side walls 35 and 37 ywith cach wall 39 receivable between one wall 35 and the adjacent wall 37. The hinge pin 33 extends through side walls 39 to pivotally secure jaw 32 to jaws v30 and 31.

Outer frame members 4t? and 41 are secured to the jaw members 31 and 32, respectively, in any suitable manner, as, for example, by screws 42. The vframe members 40 and 41 are each provided with a pair of laterally projecting wing portions 43 adjacent the free ends of the jaws to facilitate manipulation of the jaws.

.The frame members 40 and 41 are preferably formed of plastic, but may be made of any other suitable material. A claw l44 is pivoted to the side walls of the jaw 30 by a hinge pin 45. The hinge pin 45 does not pass through the side walls `of the jaw 31 because the jaws 30 and 31 must be left free to slide longitudinally relative to cach other. A spring `46 is coiled around the hinge pin 33 and has one end bearing against the back wall 47 of the claw 44 to hold it normally in engagement with the back wall 38 of jaw 32. The distance from the pivot 45 to the end of claw 44 is greater than the distance from this same rpivot to the free end of jaw 30 as in the rst embodiment, so that when the jaws are pressed together to remove a staple, the claw 44 moves vertically relative to the claw of jaws 30 or 31. A staple removing nger 48 is `pivotally secured to hinge pin 33 by ears 49 and is offset, as indicated at 50, so that only a very short movement is required to remove staples from the jaw if they become stuck thereon. The claw 44- cooperates with the claws integral with jaw members 30 and 31 in the same manner as described in the irst embodiment.

Although I have described two preferred embodiments ot-myinvention indetail, -it will be understood that the 4 description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather 'than restrictive, as many details of the structure maybe modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be resrticted to the exact construction described, eX- cept as limited by the appended claims.

l. A staple remover comprising a pair of jaw members pivotally secured together adjacent `one end, a staple engaging claw integral with 'one 'of said jaw members, a complementary staple engaging claw pivotally secured tosaid tiret mentioned jaw member, spring means urging said jaw members outwardly and holding said complementary claw with a portion thereof in engagement with said second mentioned j aw member, said jaw members being movable together by finger pressure, and a iinger pivotally mounted adjacent one of said jaw members, the free end Iof said finger projecting beyond the `free end o'r' said adjacent jaw member, whereby vsaid linger' may be'manually movedrelative to said adjacent claw to sweep therefrom any staples that may be retained on said claw after a staple removing operation. 4

2. A staple remover comprising a pair or channel shaped jaw members pivotally secured together adjacent one end, one of said jaw members having inwardly extending side walls terminating at their `free ends in a pointed staple engaging claw, a complementary channel shaped staple engaging claw having inwardly extending side walls and pivotally secured to said first mentioned jaw member by a pin extending through both pairs of side walls, a .finger pivotally mountedvbetween thefside walls of said 'first mentioned jaw member, the `free end of said finger projecting beyond the `free endV of jaw members, and a spring coiled around said pin, the-free ends of saidl Spring pressing against Said user'- and Seid complementary claw to urge said jaw members outwardly.- and to v.hold Asaidiinger against one of said jaw members, the rear edge portion of said complementaryclaw fitting within the channel of said sec/ond mentioned, jaw member, whereby said staple engaging claws may be moved inwardly to engage opposite sides of an embedded staple positioned therebetween by finger .pressure appliedl to said jaw members, and said finger may be manually moved inwardly'against the action of said spring to sweep staples from said iirst mentioned claw.

3. A -staple remover comprising a pair of channel shaped jaw members pivotally secured together adjacent one End, one -of said jaw members having inwardly 'extending side walls terminating at their free ends in ka pointed staple engaging claw, a complementary channel shaped staple engaging claw having inwardly extending side walls and pivotally secured to said rst mentioned jaw member by a pin extending through both pairs .of side walls, a .nger pivotally mounted adjacent: saidrtirst mentioned jaw member, the free end of said iingerprof jecting beyond the free end of said rst mentioned :jaw member, a spring having its free ends pressing against said finger and said complementary claw ,to urgeY said jaw members outwardly, and to hold said ringer against said first mentioned jaw member, the rear edge portion of said second jaw member adjacent the staple engaging claw .tting within the channel of said rst mentioned jaw member, whereby said staple engaging claws may'be moved inwardly to engage opposite sides of an embedded g staple positioned therebetween by iinger pressure applied to said jaw members, and said'linger may be manuallyy moved inwardly relative to the first mentioned jaw member against the action of said spring to sweep staples from said iirst mentioned claw, and means for vertically displacing said claws Krelative to each other as said jaw mem# bers are moved towards each other beyond the point at which said staple engaging claws meet each other.

4. A staple remover comprising a pair of channel shaped jaw members pivotally secured togetheradjacent one end, one ,of` said jaw members having inwardly ex@A tending side walls terminating at their free ends in a staple engaging claw, a complementary channel shaped staple engaging claw having inwardly extending side walls and pivotally secured to said iirst mentioned jaw member by a pin extending through both pairs of side walls, a linger pivotally mounted adjacent said first mentioned jaw member, the free end of said nger projecting beyond the free end of said first mentioned jaw member, and a spring having its free ends pressing against said tinger and said complementary claw to urge said jaw members outwardly, and to hold said finger against said first mentioned jaw member, the rear edge portion of said second jaw member adjacent the staple engaging claw fitting within the channel of said rst mentioned jaw member, whereby said staple engaging claws may be moved inwardly to engage opposite sides of an embedded staple positioned therebetween, each of said claws having inwardly pointed ends meeting at a common level when said jaw members are pressed together to engage opposite sides of an embedded staple, the distance from said pin to the free end of said complementary claw being greater than the distance from said pin to the free end of said rst mentioned jaw member, whereby inward movement of said jaw members beyond the point of engage ment of said pointed ends causes relative vertical displacement between said pointed ends.

5. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured together adjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positioned within the second jaw member, each of said first two jaw members terminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, another staple engaging claw pivotally secured to said first mentioned jaw and disposed in opposite relation to said first mentioned claws, and a spring positioned between said first jaw member and said third claw, whereby said rst jaw member is pressed against said second jaw member and said .third claw is normally held with its rear edge in engagement with said third jaw member, said jaw members being movable together by linger pressure against the action of said spring to move said third claw into cooperating relationship with said other claws Ito remove a clinched staple engaged on opposite sides by said claws.

6. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured together adjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positioned within the second jaw member, each of said tirst two jaw members terminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, said second jaw being slidable between an upper and lower position relative to said iirst jaw member, another staple engaging claw pivotally secured to said first mentioned jaw and disposed in opposite relation to said iirst mentioned claws, a spring positioned between said rst jaw member and said third claw, whereby said iirst jaw member is pressed against said second jaw member and said third claw is normally held with its rear edge in engagement with said third jaw member, the claws of both said rst and second jaws being engageable with one side of a clinched staple, said staple being out of reach of the claw of said second jaw when said second jaw is in its upper position, said jaw members being movable together by linger pressure against the action of said spring to move said third claw into cooperating relationship with said first claw, when said second claw is in its upper position, and into cooperating relationship with said rst and second claws when said second claw is in its lower position, to remove a clinched staple engaged on opposite sides by said claws, a. pair of longitudinally spaced recesses in one of said rst two jaw members, and a projection extending from the other of said rst two jaw members, said projection being engageable with said recesses to hold said second jaw member in either upper or lower position.

7. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured together adjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positioned within the second jaw member, each of said iirst two jaw members terminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, said rst two jaw members being movable longitudinally relative to each other to displace said claws vertically, cooperating means on said first two jaw members to hold one of said claws in an upper position relative to Vthe other, another staple engaging claw pivotally secured to said iirst mentioned jaw and disposed in opposite relation to said rst mentioned claws, and a spring positioned between said tirst jaw member and said third claw, whereby said iirst jaw member is pressed against said second jaw member and said third claw is normally held with its rear edge in engagement with said third jaw member, said jaw members being movable together by linger pressure against the action of said spring to move said third claw into cooperating relationship with said rst and second claws when said iirst and second claws are not vertically displaced relative to each other, and to the lower claw when said first and second claws are vertically displaced relative to each other, to remove a clinched staple engaged on opposite sides by said claws.

8. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured together adjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positioned within the second jaw member, each of said first two jaw members terminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, said second jaw member being slidable longitudinally relative to said rst jaw member to move the second claw between an upper and lower position, a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses in one of said rst two jaw members, a projection extending from the other of said first two jaw members, said projection being engageable with said recesses -to hold said second jaw member in its upper or lower position, another staple engaging claw pivotally secured to said first mentioned jaw and disposed in opposite relation to said rst mentioned claws, and a spring positioned between said first jaw member and said third claw, whereby said first jaw member is pressed against said second jaw member, and said third claw is normally held with a portion of its rear edge in engagement with said third jaw member, said jaw members being movable together by nger pressure against the action of said spring to move said third claw into cooperating relationship with said iirst `and second claws when said second claw is in its lower position, and with said first claw when said second claw is in its upper position, to remove clinched staples engaged on opposite sides by said claws, each of said claws having inwardly pointed ends meeting at a common level when said jaws are pressed together to engage opposite sides of a staple, the distance from the pivot of said third claw to its free end being greater than the distance from said pivot to the free end of said iirst jaw member, whereby inward movement of said jaw members beyond the meeting point of said pointed ends causes relative vertical displacement between the pointed ends of said third claw and the pointed ends of said other claws.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,549,260 Sudbury Apr. 7, 1951 2,592,570 Hofstetter Apr. 15, 1952 2,662,727 Yerkes Dec. l5, 1953

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