US3158868A - Stapler - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1964 o. H. JOHNSON STAPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1962 FIG. 2.

jj n w u@u OSCAR H. JOHNSON Dec. 1, 1964 o. H. JOHNSON STAPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1962 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR OSCAR H. JOHNSON United States Patent Mfg. llompany, oreester, Mass, a of Massachusetts Filed in, $62, Ser. No. 181L224 This invention relates to a stapler and more particularly to apparatus arranged to drive wire staples fiom a magazine through material to be fastened.

In the operation of staplers considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past because of the fact that staples come formed from various gauges of fiat wire. Commonly, the wire used is either .025 or .050 inch in Width. When it is necessary to change from one gauge of staple to another (due, on one hand, to the necessity for a heavy duty staple or, on the other hand, .to the necessity of saving money) it has been necessary to use a different stapler or stapling machine. For the average home having two staplers is a rather expensive luxury and the tendency has been for a person wi h a light gauge stapler to use light gauge staples even when heavy gauge staples are called for. These and other difiiculties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a stapler capable, alternatively, of being used with staples of two difierent gauge Another object of this invention is the provision of a stapler of inexpensive and rugged construction which is, nevertheless, capable of operating with one of two different types of staples.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a stapling machine which may be quickly and easily modified to one of two conditions for handling two different types of staples.

It is another object of the invention to provide a stapling gun for driving staples from a magazine supply, wherein a magazine of light duty staples may be readily replaced with a magazine of heavy duty staples in a short time.

With these and other objects in View, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stapler embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the stapler;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the stapler;

FlG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the stapler showing elements in a second condition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of another portion of the stapler in the second condition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line Vl-Vl of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the stapler taken on the line VllVll of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the stapler taken on the line VlHVlll of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the stapler, indicated by the reference numeral 10, consists of a frame ll having a handle 12, and an actuating lever 1'3. Enclosed in the frame is a magazine 14 in which a series of staples is carried, the staples having been fastened together temporarily in serial form by cement to form a channelshaped member, as is well known in this art. Underlying Patented fiec. 1, 1964 the magazine and acting as a cover therefor is a base member 15. The base member is formed of sheet metal and is provided with a broad flat main body 16 which is formed with curved flanges 17 along either edge, which flanges embrace the sides of the frame and magazine 14. At one end the base member is pivotally attached to the frame by means of a pivot pin 18, while at the other end it is provided with a transverse straight edge 19.

The stapler is similar in construction to the device shown in the patent of La Pointe and Priest No. 2,982,- 966. The handle is provided with a notch 21 located so that when the actuating lever 13 is in its lower position adjacent the handle 12 a wire loop 22 can engage the notch 21 and hold the actuating lever in that position for compactness. Mounted on the frame 11 adjacent the edge 19 of the base member 15 is a locking lever 23 provided with a pivot pin 24 and having a finger pad 25 for the actuation thereof. A wire spring 26 serves to hold the lever in locking position. The lower end of the lever engages a slot 27 formed in the flange 17 of the base member 15; each side of the frame 11 is provided with such a locking lever 23 and the two levers operate together. At the other end of the frame 11 is mounted a locking lever 23 pivotally mounted on the outside of the frame by means of a pivot pin 23. At its upper end, the lever is provided with a finger pad 31 and with a dimple 32. The lower end is formed with a thin finger 33 which fits into a slot 34 in the flange 17 of the base member, the slot being slightly larger than the finger.

In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the edge 19 constitutes one boundary of a tongue 35 which extends from the main body 16 of the base member 15. It is much more restricted in width than the main body and is not provided with flanges 17. The tongue 35 slides between the flanges of a channel 36 forming part of the frame 11 and in a general way containing the staple'driving mechanism. The channel 11 is provided with indentations 37 and 38 which serve to guide a thin plate-like staple driver blade 39. The edge 19 of the base member 15 and the inner surface of the channel 36 serve to define a narrow slot in which the blade 39 resides and through which the staple is driven. The staple in its downward passage is supported against tipping by the walls of the channel 11 and by the forward edge of a channel which is welded to the upper surface of the base member 15, which channel is straddled by the series of staples as they move toward the slot through which they are to be transported by the driver blade 39. The forward edge of this channel lies in a vertical plane with the edge 19, so that the slot through which the staple moves and by which it is supported is defined by the inner walls of the channel 36, the forward edge 19, and the inner surface of the channel 41. As is evident in HQ 3, the channel 41 extends beyond the base member 15 at the other end thereof from the edge 19 and forms two cars 42 and 43 through which the pivot pin 18 passes. The pin also passes through apertures the side flanges 4d and d5 of the magazine 14. The pivot pin 18 also passes through side plates 46 and 47 of the frame 11. In the preferred embodiment a locking lever 28 is provided on only one side of the stapler.

As is evident in FIG. 4, the dimple 32 is adapted to reside in one of two apertures 48 passing through the side plate 46 of the frame ll. In FIG. 4, the dimple 32 is shown located in the rearwardmost of the two apertures 43 and the locking lever 28 is inclined with its finger 33 in a forward position. In FIG. 5 is shown the condition of the edge 19 relative to the channel as when this second condition exists. It can be seen that the slot through which the staples pass is quite narrow. As a matter of fact, the slot as shown in FIG. 5 is of a size to pass a light gauge staple formed of flat wire of a staple of heavy a approximately .025" width, while the slot in the first condition shown in FIG. 3 is of a width to pass snugly gauge formed of wire of approximately .050" width. I

Referring now to FIG. 6, which is a sectional view taken in the area of the hinge pin 18, it can be seen that the hinge pin is, in actuality, a hollow rivet, which passes through relatively tightly-fitting apertures in the side plate 47 and the flange 45 of the housing frame 11 and the magazine 14, respectively. On the other hand, the aperture 49 formed in the ear 43 on the channel 41 which forms part of the base member 15 is slightly elongated. The amount of elongation indicated by the letter A is equal to the dilference between the width of "the slots in the first condition shown in FIG. 3 and the second condition shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, the horizontal distance between the apertures 48 in the side plate 46 of the frame 11 is also equal to the distance A.

FIG; 7. shows the detail of the locking lever 23 and associated elements. The pivot pin holds the lever in close relationship to the side plate 46 of the frame and the dimple 32 resides in one of the apertures 48. The

position shown in FIG. 2), the lower end of the lever 28 finger 33 at the lower end of the lever'extends through a slot 34 in the flange 17 of the base member 15.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view of the above description. The stapler is operated by grasping the actuating lever 13 and the handle 12 and squeezing them together. As the lever is brought closer to the handle 12 the staple driver blade 39 is driven downwardly and strikes the forwardmost staple in the magazine 14 and carries it downwardly through the slot into the article to be stapled. The series of staples are biased by a spring, in the well-known manner, toward the slot, so that, after the driver blade moves upwardly again, the next staple in line moves forwardly into the slot ready for driving. When it is desired to place more staples in the magazine 14, the locking lever 23 is moved to release the end of the base member 15 so that it may be pivoted about the pivot pin 18. In this condition, it is possible to place a new series of staples so that it rests ontop of the channel 16. Then, the base member is closed so that the stapler is in condition for operation for another period of time. If the staples that lie within the magazine are of the small gauge variety, the locking lever 28 should be in the inclined condition shown in FIG. 4 so that the slot in this condition shown inFIG. 5 is narrow commensurate with a narrow gauge staple and its support. If, however, it is desired to use a heavy gauge staple, the locking lever should be moved to the upright position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the finger 33 moves the base member 15 rearwardly, and the slot is wide. If we consider the heavy gauge condition as being a first position of the locking lever and the light rgauge staple condition as being the second position of the locking lever, it can be seen that the elements take. up one of two positions, depending on whether the lever 28 'is in the first position or the second position. In the first position shown in FIG. 2, the base member 15 'ismoved as far to the right as possible, which means that the hinge pin 18 resides to the left of the slotted aperture 49. This also means that the edge 19 is in its right hand position as shown in FIG. 3 and that the slot is relatively wide. When the locking lever is linits second position, shown in FIG. 4, the dimple 32 resides in the right hand aperture 48 in the plate 46 of the frame. The base member 15 is in a left hand position so that the hinge pin 18' resides in the right hand end of the slot 49 as shown in FIG. 6. In this a second position of the locking lever 28 the edge 19 is in its left hand position shown in FIG. 5 and the slot is relatively narrow for use with narrow gauge staples.

The lock 23 is spring-biased so that its bottom portion (that is to say, the hook which engages the base member 15) is pushed rearwardly. This causes the base 15 to be constantly under spring pressure. This is true except at such times that the locking lever 23 is pressed by the finger to release the base 15 for inserting new staples and so on. This spring-biasing elfect pushes the base 15 rearwardly to as great an extent as is possible. Because of the slot 49, the base can move rearwardly until the forward part of the slot is contacted by the hollow pin 18. However, such rearward motion is prevented when the lever 28 is in the forward position (for use with small staples). When the lever 28 is pressed so that the finger moves from the forward position to the rearward position (in which the dimple 32 rests in the does not prevent the base 15 from sliding rearwardly.

Since the base is under spring force from the lever 23, it does so, forming the wider slot for the wider staple;

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof, it is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus descnibed, what is 4 claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A stapler capable of operating alternatively with two staples of two different gauges, comprising (a) a frame including a magazine for a series of staples,

V (b) a base member cooperating with the magazine, the base member having an edge which cooperates with the housing to define a narrow slot through which the staples are driven one at a time,

(c) hinge means connecting the base member to the frame while permitting linear movement therebetween,

(d) lever means for selectively positioning the base member in one of two positions relative to the frame whereby the said edge is .also located in one of two positions in which the said slot is relatively narrow or wide commensurate with the two gauges of the staples, and

(e) a spring-pressed latchto urge the base member rearwardly against the said lever means.

2. A stapler capable of operating alternatively with staples of two different gauges, comprising (a) a frame including a magazine for a series of V zine, the base member having an edge at one end which cooperates with the housing to define a narrow slot through which the staples are driven one at a time,

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting theother end of the base member to the frame While permit ting linear movement therebetween,

(d) lever means for selectively positioning the base member in one of two positions relative to the frame whereby the said edge is also located in one of two positions in which the said slot is relatively narrow or wide commensurate with the two gauges of the staples, and

(e) a spring-pressed latch to urge the base member rearwardly against the said lever means.

3. A stapler capable of operating alternatively with staples of two different gauges, comprising (a) a frame including, a staple driver and a magazine for a series of staples,

(b) an elongated flat base member extending along one edge of the housing and operative as a cover (c) hinge means for pivotally connecting the other end of the base member to the frame while permitting linear movement therebetween,

(d) lever means for selectively positioning the base member into and locking it in one of two positions 5 relative to the frame whereby the said edge is also located in one of two positions in which the said slot is relatively narrow or Wide commensurate with the two gauges of the staples, and

(e) a spring-pressed latch to urge the base member 10 rearwardly against the said lever means.

4. A stapler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the said lock means is a lever pivoted on the frame and having a free end which engages a slot in the base member and having a dimple which engages one of two apertures 15 in the frame corresponding to the said two positions.

5. A stapler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the hinge means consists of a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the frame and the base member, the apertures in the base member being slightly elongated in the direction of the said linear movement, the elongation being substantially the same as the distance between the said two positions of the said edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,169 Weber Feb. 1, 1938 2,109,203 Spencer Feb. 22, 1938 2,181,387 Weber Nov. 28, 1939 2,982,966 La Pointe May 9, 1961 2,991,476 Seiter July 11, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A STAPLER CAPABLE OF OPERATING ALTERNATIVELY WITH TWO STAPLES OF TWO DIFFERENT GAUGES, COMPRISING (A) A FRAME INCLUDING A MAGAZINE FOR A SERIES OF STAPLES, (B) A BASE MEMBER COOPERATING WITH THE MAGAZINE, THE BASE MEMBER HAVING AN EDGE WHICH COOPERATES WITH THE HOUSING TO DEFINE A NARROW SLOT THROUGH WHICH THE STAPLES ARE DRIVEN ONE AT A TIME, (C) HINGE MEANS CONNECTING THE BASE MEMBER TO THE FRAME WHILE PERMITTING LINEAR MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, (D) LEVER MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING THE BASE MEMBER IN ONE OF TWO POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE FRAME WHEREBY THE SAID EDGE IS ALSO LOCATED IN ONE OF TWO POSITIONS IN WHICH THE SAID SLOT IS RELATIVELY NARROW OR WIDE COMMENSURATE WITH THE TWO GAUGES OF THE STAPLES, AND (E) A SPRING-PRESSED LATCH TO URGE THE BASE MEMBER REARWARDLY AGAINST THE SAID LEVER MEANS.

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