US3398872A

US3398872A - Hand-operated stapler

Info

Publication number: US3398872A
Application number: US550299A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas G Monahan
Original assignee: Thomas G. Monahan
Current assignee: THOMAS G MONAHAN
Priority date: 1966-05-16
Filing date: 1966-05-16
Publication date: 1968-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-27

Description

7, 1968 T. G. MONAHAN HAND-OPERATED STAPLER Filed May 16. 1966 United States Patent 3,398,872 HAND-OPERATED STAPLER Thomas G. Monahan, 5342 Noble Ave., Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403 Filed May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,299 2 Claims. (Cl. 227-110) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stapler employing a conventional base and staple chute is provided with an intermediate arm which is pivotally mounted to the base. The staple chute is pivotally mounted at its forward end to the intermediate arm to be rotatable in a plane generally parallel to the base. In this way, staples may be ejected either in the conventional position of the chute with respect to the base, or, by pivoting the chute on the intermediate arm at right angles to the conventional position.

The present invention relates to hand-operated staplers of the type used in otlices, for example, for stapling together sheets of paper, or the like, by driving pre-formed staples through the sheets and then clinching the staples.

The stapler of the invention is of the type which includes a base, and which also includes an arm mounted on the base for limited pivotal movement between an up position and a down position with respect to the base. The arm is normally spring biased to its up position.

A magazine chute for the staples is mounted on the aforesaid arm, and a stapling actuator overlies the chute, in the embodiment to be described, as is usual with present day staplers. The staples are spring-biased to the forward end of the magazine chute in a manner well understood in the art, and each time the stapler is operated, the actuator releases one of the staples and causes it to be driven through the sheets of paper. An anvil is supported on the base directly under the forward end of the chute, and this anvil serves to clinch the staples as they are driven by the actuator through the sheets of paper, also in a manner well understood in the art.

When the papers to 'be stapled together are inserted between the forward end of the chute and the anvil, the assembly may be depressed against the anvil to cause the actuator to eject a staple, drive the staple through the papers, and cause the staple to be clinched by the anvil so as to complete the stapling action.

The improved stapler of the present invention is constructed so that the magazine chute and actuator are pivotally mounted to the aforesaid arm in a manner to be described. The action is such that the magazine chute may be swung out from the arm to a perpendicular position, thus causing its forward end to be rotated 90 with respect to the base. A guide track is provided, for example, integral with the aforesaid arm, so that the forward end of the chute may be rotated between two angular positions, displaced by 90 from one another, with respect to the base.

The anvil is provided on the base with a pair of grooves which are positioned at right angles to one another. These grooves enable staples ejected from the chute to be clinched in a first particular position with respect to the inserted papers when the chute is in its first angular position, and in a ninety degree displaced angular position when the chute is swung out from the arm so that its forward end is rotated through 90 to its second angular position.

The above described feature of the stapler of the present invention is advantageous in that it permits, for example, papers to be stapled together at normally inaccessible 3,398,872 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 positions, such as at the middle of a sheet, so that the top sheet may be folded back. This is most useful, for example, when a paragraph is to be added to a document, or when an insert is made to a page, by adding flaps.

The stapler of the present invention also has other general uses, in that it permits stapling of sheets of paper, and other documents, in a variety of positions which are inaccessible to the usual prior art stapler.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is .to provide an improved dual-function stapler which includes, for example, a staple magazine chute which ,may be swung out to a perpendicular position with respect to the base, so as to rotate its forward end through from one angular position to another, for the reasons outlined above.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will .-become apparent from a consideration of the following specification, when the specification is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a stapler constructed to incorporate the concepts of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the stapler of FIGURE 1, in a first operating position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the stapler of FIGURE 1, in a second operating position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an appropriate anvil for use in the stapler; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another component of the stapler assembly.

The stapler illustrated in the drawing includes a usual elongated base 10. The underside of the base 10 is equipped with appropriate pads 12. These pads, for example, may be composed of a rubber-like substance, so that the stapler will not scratch the surface on which it is used.

An operating arm 14 is pivotally mounted on the base 10 by means, for example, of a pivot pin 16, for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the base about an axis paralleling the base 10. Appropriate means, not shown, is provided for biasing the forward end of the arm 14 to a position spaced up from the base 10, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The pivotal movement of the arm 14 is limited by other appropriate means (not shown), so that when it is resiliently biased in a clockwise direction ;in FIGURE 1 to the up position, it assumes a generally" horizontal position parallel to the base 10, or a slightly tilted position, as shown in FIGURE 1. It will be appreciated that each time the stapler is operated, the free left-hand end of the arm 14 is moved down towards the base 10 to a down position.

An arcuate guide track 18 is formed integral with the arm 14, and this arcuate guide track extends from one side of the arm 14 essentially parallel to the plane of the base. The configuration of the guide track is best shown in FIGURE 5.

The stapler includes a usual elongated magazine chute 20. A stick of staples is positioned in the chute 20, as well understood in the art, and these staples are urged by an appropriate resilient means towards the forward end of the chute. An elongated actuator 22 is pivoted to the rear end of the chute 20, and the actuator overlies the chute, as best shown in FIGURE 1.

The mechanism is such that each time the handle 23 of the actuator is pressed down, not only is the free end of the arm 14 moved down to its down position, but the actuator is caused to drive a staple through the forward end of the chute 20, and through the sheets of paper held between the free end of the arm 14 and the base 10.

An anvil 24 is mounted on the base 10 directly under the forward end of the chute 20, so that the staple ejected by the actuator 22, and forced through the sheets of paper thereby; may be clinched sheet.

The chute 20 is pivoted to the arm 14 by means, for example, of apivotpin 26. This pivot pin extends through a-hole 28 (FIGURE in the forward end of the arm 14 and into-the forward end of the chute. This pivotal couplingof the forward end of the chute to the forward end of the arm 14 permits the rear end of the chute 20 to be swung out from the arm, in the plane of the arm, from a first aligned position with respect to the arm (FIGURE 2) to a second perpendicular position with respect to the arm (FIGURE 3).

A pin 30 projects down from the bottom of the chute 20 and through an arcuate slot in the guide 18, so that the angular movement of the chute 20 is limited to ninety degrees, in its position of FIGURE 3, and to an aligned relationship, in its position of FIGURE 2. This guide and pin relationship permits the magazine chute 20 to be swung out to the perpendicular position, or swung into its aligned position, so that movement of the chute is positively limited to each of its two extreme positions. Likewise, the rotational movement of the forward end of the chute 20 is between a first angular position and a second angular position displaced ninety degrees from the first angular position. i A pair of grooves 24a (FIGURE 4) are formed in the anvil 24. These grooves are disposed at ninety degrees to oneanother, and they perform the desired clinching action for the staples ejected by the actuator 22, when the forward end of the chute 20 is in either of its two angular positions.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that when the stapler is in the position shown in FIGURES l and 2, it functions as a usual stapler, and may be used for stapling in the normal manner. However, when it is desired to insert staples in sheets of paper, and at a position normally inaccessible to the prior art staplers, the chute 20 is swung out to its position of FIGURE 3, as limited by the guide track 18. This permits the stapler to be inserted from the side ofa sheet of paper, for example, and yet permits stapling at a midsheet position, with the staples extending across the sheet, as is desired for folding action.

As mentioned above, the improved stapler is also capable of other dual purpose uses, and for performing stapling operations from positions which are inaccessible to the usual prior art stapler.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described, modifications may be made. It is intended tightly against the lowermost 4 to cover all such modifications as fall within the'scope of the invention, in the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A stapler including: an elongated base; an operating arm pivotally mountedto said base and pivotally supported at its rear end of said base with its forward end spaced normally from said base for limited pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the plane of said base; means defining an arcuate guide track on said operating arm adjacent the forward end thereof and extending from one side of said arm in a plane essentially parallel to the plane of said base; an elongated staple magazine chute mounted on said operating arm and overlying said operating arm; means pivotally mounting the forward end of said chute to the end of said arm to enable the rear end of said chute to be swung in a plane essentially parallel to the plane of said base from a first position aligned with said arm to a second position perpendicular to said arm so as to turn the forward end of said chute from a first angular position through substantially to a second angular position; a pin projecting down from said chute into said guide track to limit the angular swing of the rear end of said chute between said first aligned position and said second perpendicular position with respect to said arm; an actuator positioned to eject staples from the forward end 'of said chute; and an anvil mounted on said base directly under said forward end of said chute and having mutually perpendicular grooves therein to clinch staples from said chute when said chute is in either the first or second angular positions. 2. The stapler defined in claim 1 in which said means defining said arcuate guide track is integral with said arm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,586,583 6/1926 Skrebba. 2,358,463 9/1944 Masters 227-410 2,922,163 1/1960 Smick 227- FOREIGN PATENTS 928,437 11/1947 France.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.