Patent Application
20100126325
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hole punching device, and in particular, to an effort-saving punching device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, an office hole punching device is a tool that is used to create holes in sheets of paper and it has a long lever which is used to push a bladed cylinder straight through a number of sheets of paper. Generally, the lever needs not be more than 8 cm for sufficient force to handle low volume hole punches. But if handling large volumes, there is then a demand for utilizing a very long lever arm in order that punching effort can be saved. TW Pat. No. M308161 is a representative of an effort to provide a laborsaving punching device. Nevertheless, there is still a need for a punching device that accomplishes greater effort-saving effect.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
According to the present invention, a hole punching device includes a base formed with a plurality of punch holes. Two first punching members and a second punching member is locatable at various positions intermediate the two first punching members and each of the first and second punching members includes a punch pin for punching a hole on sheets upon depression of the hole punching device. A first lever arm is pivotally moved with respect to a proximal end of the base and is adapted to move the punch pin of one of the two first punching members into one of the plurality of punch holes upon depression of the hole punching device. A second lever arm is pivotally moved with respect to a distal end of the base and is adapted to move the punch pin of another of the two first punching members into another of the plurality of punch holes upon depression of the hole punching device. A third lever arm is pivotally moved with respect to the second punching member and is adapted to move the punch pin of the second punching member into the other of the plurality of punch holes upon depression of the hole punching device. Moreover, the first lever arm has a longitudinal length being longer than those of the second and third lever arms, and the second lever arm being longer than that of the third lever arm. Further, the first lever arm actuates the second and third lever arms upon depression of the hole punching device.
In one embodiment, the first lever arm has a pivotal direction opposite to that of the second lever arm and the third lever arm has a pivotal direction in accordance with that of the second lever arm.
In another embodiment, the first lever arm has a pivotal direction opposite to that of the second lever arm and the third lever arm has a pivotal direction opposite to that of the second lever arm.
It is an object of the present invention that the hole punching device effectively accomplishes effort-saving effect.
It is another object of the present invention that the second punching member is locatable at various positions for various punch hole patterns.
It is a further object of the present invention that the punch pins of the associated first and second punching members can move into the corresponding punch holes sequentially so as to further make depression of the hole punching device effort-saving.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which assist in illustrating the pertinent features thereof, in which:
The base 10 also includes a platform 12 having a receiving area 13 on which two first punching members 20 and a second punching member 70 can mount. Preferably, the two first punching members 20 are mounted on a proximal end and a distal end of the receiving area 13 respectively. Additionally, the second punching member 70 is locatable at various positions intermediate the two first punching members 20. Moreover, each of the first and second punching members 20, 70 are fixed to the platform 12 by means of fasteners (not numbered). Specifically, the receiving area 13 includes a plurality of holes 15 allowing insertion of the fasteners. Further, a plurality of punch holes 14 are formed on the receiving area 13. In addition, each lug 11 includes a slot 112 adapted to receive and align sheets to be punched on the platform 12.
Each of the first and second punching members 20 and 70 includes a punch pin 23 for punching holes on the sheets upon depression of the hole punching device. Moreover, the pin 23 in each of the first punching members 20 is operably moveable through a compartment 211 and a slotted area 212 of a body 21, and the pin 23 in the second punching member 70 is moveable through a compartment 711 and a slotted area 712 of a body 71. Additionally, the punch pin 23 in each of the first and second punching members 20 and 70 is prevented from disengagement with the associated body 21, 71 by means of a clip 24. Also, the punch pin 23 in each of the of the first and second punching members 20 and 70 is adapted to be biased in a direction reverse to a direction where the punch pin moves upon depression of the hole punching device by a spring 25.
The hole punching device also includes a first lever arm 30 that is pivotally moved with respect to the proximal end of the base 10 upon depression of the hole punching device. Preferably, the first lever arm 30 includes a pivotal end 31 connected to the lug 11 at the proximal end of the base 10 by means of a pin 60. Then, the first lever arm 30 is adapted to operably move the punch pin 23 of one of the two first punching members 20 into one of the plurality of punch holes 14. Preferably, the first lever arm 30 includes an engaging portion 35 extending therefrom and abutting the punch pins 23 of the said first punching member 20. Generally, user depresses the first lever arm 30 at an operational end 32 which is opposite to the pivotal end 31. A second lever arm 40 is pivotally moved with respect to the distal end of the base 10 upon depression of the hole punching device. Preferably, the second lever arm 40 includes a pivotal end 41 connected to the lug 11 at the distal end of the base 10 by means of another pin 60. Then, the second lever arm 40 is adapted to operably move the punch pin 23 of another of the two first punching members 20 into another of the plurality of punch holes 14. Preferably, the second lever arm 40 includes an engaging portion 43 extending therefrom and abutting the punch pins 23 of the said first punching member 20. Additionally, a third lever arm 50 is pivotally moved with respect to the second punching member 70 upon depression of the hole punching device. Preferably the third lever arm 50 includes a pivotal end 51 connected to the second punching member 70 by means of the other pin 60. Then, the third lever arm 50 is adapted to operably move the punch pin 23 of the second punching member 70 into the other of the plurality of punch holes 14. Preferably, the third lever arms 50 includes an engaging portion 53 extending therefrom and abutting the punch pins 23 of the second punching member 70. Preferably, the first, second and third lever arms 30, 40, 50 pivot coplanar in relation to each other. However, it is appreciated that the arms 30, 40, and 50 can pivot in different planes is within the scope of the present invention. Further, the first lever arm 30 has a longitudinal length being longer than those of the second and third lever arms 40, 50, and the second lever arm 40 being longer than that of the third lever arm 50. Further, the first lever arm 30 actuates the second and third lever arms 40, 50 upon depression of the hole punching device.
In use, the first lever arm 30 has a pivotal direction opposite to that of the second lever arm 40, and the third lever arm 50 has a pivotal direction in accordance with that of the second lever arm 40. The second lever arm 40 includes a sliding end A moveable on and between the pivotal end 31 and the operational end 32 of the first lever arm 30. The third lever arm 50 includes a sliding portion B moveable on and between the pivotal end and operational end of the first lever arm 30. Preferably, the first lever arm 30 includes a first guiding groove 33 and a second guiding groove 34 where the sliding end A of the second lever arm 40 and the sliding portion B of the third arm 50 are moveably received respectively. Preferably, each of the second and third lever arms 40, 50 includes a roller 42, 52 installed to the sliding end A and the sliding portion B thereof respectively such that more effort can be saved during operation thereof.
Note that the hole punching device has a length measured from the operational end 32 to the sliding end A as L1, and L1 will increase to L1′ and L1″ as the hole punching device is further depressed. Further, the hole punching device has a length measured from the operational end 32 to the sliding portion B as L2, and L2 will increase to L2′ and L2″ as the hole punching device is further depressed. Additionally, the second lever arm 40 defines a load arm distance S1, and the third lever arm defines a load arm distance S2 smaller than S1. As a result, these phenomenons allows an effort-saving operation.
Contrary to the first embodiment, the punch pins 23 of the associated first and second punching members 20, 70 in this embodiment is adapted to move into the corresponding punch holes 14 sequentially so as to further make depression of the hole punching device effort-saving.
Contrary to the first embodiment, the punch pins 23 of the associated first and second punching members 20, 70 in this embodiment is adapted to move into the corresponding punch holes 14 sequentially so as to further make depression of the hole punching device effort-saving. Also, the first lever arm 30b has a pivotal direction opposite to that of the second lever arm 40b and the third lever arm 50b has a pivotal direction opposite to that of the second lever arm 40b.
Further, it is contemplated that the second and third lever arms 40b, 50b have sides substantially L-shaped, and the second lever arm 40b has two engaging portions 43b, the third lever arm 50b has two engaging portions 53b. A base 10b is therefore modified accordingly for connection with the second and third lever arms 40b, 50b.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.
