The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described with specific reference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout the detailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form for purposes of simplifying the description. Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
The present invention relates to a hand-held, ergonomic stapler, an exemplary embodiment of which includes: a body for holding staples, wherein the body for holding staples further includes an upper portion hingeably attached to a lower portion and wherein the lower portion further includes a recessed area adapted to receive staples; a lid attached to the body by hinge means, wherein the upper portion of the body is flexibly attached to the lid, and wherein a portion of the top outer surface of the lid further includes a substantially planar surface; a first biasing member disposed between the upper portion of the body and the bottom inner surface of the lid; a base attached to the body by hinge means, wherein the lower portion of the body is flexibly attached to the base; a second biasing member disposed between the lower portion of the body and the top portion of the base; and an actuating lever attached to the base by hinge means, wherein a portion of the underside of the actuating lever contacts the substantially planar surface on the lid, and wherein applying sufficient force to the actuating lever brings the bottom portion of the body into contact with the base and the top portion of the body into contact with the bottom portion of the body, thereby dispensing a staple.
With reference to the Figures, an exemplary embodiment of hand-held stapler 10 includes a separate actuating arm or lever that provides ergonomic features and advantages to the stapler and to a user of the stapler. The exemplary embodiment shown in
As best shown in
Substantially planar member 32 provides a relatively even and flat surface across which first flange 28 slides when lever 18 is depressed. As lever 18 is depressed and flange 28 moves across the surface of planar member 32, the first and second biasing members, which are mounted between the underside of lid 14 and the top portion of body 12, and the lower portion of body 12 and the top portion of base 16, are compressed. The lower portion of body 12 is compressed against an upwardly biased striker plate 27, lid 14 compresses the upper portion of body 12, the upper portion of body 12 compresses the lower portion of body 12, and a staple is ejected from stapler 10 and into the object or objects to be stapled.
As shown in
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in certain detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representative devices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/745,782 filed on Apr. 27, 2006 and entitled “Ergonomic Hand-Held Stapler,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully rewritten herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60745782 | Apr 2006 | US |