The present disclosure relates to a stapler and more particularly to a stapler for preventing simultaneous dispensing of multiple staples.
In the discussion of the background that follows, reference is made to certain structures and/or methods. However, such references should not be construed as an admission that these structures and/or methods constitute prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to demonstrate that such structures and/or methods do not qualify as prior art.
Sod consists of grass and the part of the soil beneath the grass that is held together by the roots of the grass. Sometimes a piece of material is used to hold the sod together. When sod is laid on bare ground the sod needs to be tacked down to the ground to prevent the sod from moving so that there is a stable bed for the roots of the grass to grow into. Additionally, if the sod is not tacked down rain may create erosion problems between the sod and the ground. Tacking the sod to the ground is a laborious task where often a person may bend down and drive fastener through the sod and into the ground. This process of tacking the sod to the ground may be very laborious and expensive, which encourages workers to take short cuts that do not properly tack the sod to the ground. This may create environmental problems from erosion which may pollute local ecosystems and may result in the roots of the sod not growing into the bare ground which may result in the sod dying. Therefore, there is a need for a stapler of the type described herein.
Apparatus and methods are provided for stapling. A stapler includes a topsail configured to support a plurality of staples, the staples being slidably moveable on the topsail; a blade configured to drive an end staple of the plurality of staples out of the stapler and into an object to staple; a pusher configured to urge the plurality of staples on the topsail in a direction toward the blade; a finger configured to move between at least two positions by movement of the blade, a first position where the finger does not substantially counter action of the pusher, and a second position where the finger is engaged with the plurality of staples to substantially counter action of the pusher on the staples to keep the plurality of staples excluding the end staple away from the blade.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The following detailed description can be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like elements and in which:
The front plates 62, 64 are illustrated as removed from the stapler 10 to facilitate explanation. The front plates 62, 64 and the blade guides 66, 68 provide a guide in which the blade 34 can reciprocally travel. The pusher 50 which is explained in more detail below pushes on the staples 70 to urge the staples toward the blade 34 and against the front plates 62, 64. The finger 46 is rotatably attached to the base assembly 40 by a finger pin 44. Bracket 42 provides support. The bracket 42 has a cut out (not numbered) so that the finger 46 can rotate down and engage the staples 70. The staples 70 are illustrated as being out of the stapler 10 for clarity. The finger 46 has two positions: a first position where the finger 46 does not substantially counter the pusher 50, and a second position where the finger 46 is engaged with the staples 70 to substantially counter the pusher 50 to keep the staples 70, in particular staple 74 (but not 72) away from the blade 34 while the blade 34 is driving staple 72 out of the stapler 10. The finger spring 48 biases the finger 46 in an up position where the finger 46 does not engage the staples 70. The operation of the finger 46 is explained further below.
The blade pedal assembly 30 translates pressure on the pedal 32 to the blade 34 and provides support for the handle 20. In the example illustrated, the blade pedal assembly 30 also transmits hand pressure on the handle 20 from a person's hands to the blade 34. In the example illustrated, the handle 20 moves down as the pedal 32 (and blade 34) move down. Other configurations are possible so that the handle 20 would not move down as the pedal 32 moves down. The blade pedal assembly 30 goes through an opening in the pedal guide 42, which is attached to the base assembly 40. The safety pin 38 holds the handle 20 within guide tube 39. In embodiments, there are additional holes (not illustrated) in the handle shaft 21 so that the handle 20 height relative to guide tube 39 can be adjusted. The blade pedal spring 36 is held between the spring collar 37 and the pedal guide 42. The blade pedal spring 36 biases the blade pedal assembly 30 in an up position. The handle 20 is relatively stable for transporting the stapler 10 because the top of the blade 34 presses against the bottom of the pedal guide 42 and the blade pedal spring 36 biases the blade pedal assembly 30 in an up position.
In operation, the pedal 32 is pushed down by the foot of a person, which drives the blade pedal assembly 30 and the blade 34 attached to the blade pedal assembly 30 downward. In the embodiment illustrated, a person may also press down on the handle 20 with the hands to drive the blade 34 down, apart from or together with applying foot pressure to pedal 32. As the blade 34 is driven down the blade 34 engages the finger 46 which causes the finger 46 to engage the staples 70. The finger 46 is positioned so as to engage the staple 74 next to the end staple 72. As the blade 34 continues to be driven down the blade 34 engages the end staple 72 and drives the end staple 72 out of the stapler 10 and into the medium below the stapler 10, which may be sod, and then the stapler 10 further drives the staple 72 into the ground under the sod. The sod is thus tacked to the ground. Once the end staple 72 is driven out of the stapler 10, the person stops pushing on the pedal 32 and the bade 34 goes back up to its resting position due to the bias provided by the blade pedal spring 36. As the blade 34 goes up, the blade 34 no longer engages the finger 46. The finger 46 moves up due to the bias of the finger spring 48. Upward movement of finger 46 permits the staples 70 to move forward to permit staple 74 to replace the end staple 72 below the blade 34 for the next stroke. The staples 70 move forward under the force of the pusher 50 which is biased to move toward the blade and against the front guards 62, 64 by the pusher spring 52.
The finger 46 ensures that only the end staple 72 is pushed on by the blade 34 and that the staple 74 does not move into the position of the end staple 72 until after the end staple 72 has been driven out of the stapler 10. This may help to insure that the stapler 10 does not simultaneously push out two staples 72, 74, and this may help to prevent the stapler 10 from becoming jammed. In alternative embodiments, the finger 46 may substantially counter the push of the pusher 50 in other ways. For example, the finger 46 may engage other staples 70 since the staples 70 may be attached to one another, or the finger 46 may engage the pusher 50. In alternative embodiments, different structures other than a finger 46 may be used to substantially counter the push of the pusher 50.
The topsail 54 supports the staples 70, shown for clarity as removed from the stapler 10. The pusher rod 86 provides a guide on which the pusher bushing 88 may slide back and forth. The bottom guide (not illustrated) provides a guide for the pusher plates 56, 58 on the opposite end from the pusher rod 86. The pusher rider 82 is pushed on by the pusher spring 52 and slides along the rod of the pusher holder assembly 58. The pusher rider 82 is connected to the pusher 50 and transmits the force of the pusher spring 52 through the pusher rider 82 to the pusher 50. The pusher rider 82 has a notch (not numbered) and a riding edge 84 for latching the pusher 50 onto the slot 80 while loading staples 70. The pusher 50 has a pusher handle 92 for pushing the pusher 50 into and out of a latched position where the notch is latched into the slot 80. The pusher 50 has pusher plates 54, 56 and front edges 51, 53. The pusher plates 54, 56 are fixedly attached to the pusher bushing 88 and the pusher rider 82. The pusher 50 pushes on the staples 70 to push them toward the blade (not illustrated) and against the front plates 62, 64.
In operation, the pusher 50 pushes the staples 70 along the front edge 51 and 53 of the pusher 50. The staples 70 are held between the pusher 50 and the front plates 62, 64. When the blade 34 is driven down into a staple 72, the finger 46 may substantially counter the force of the pusher 50 so that other staples 74, 76 are not pushed toward the staple 72 when the blade 34 is driving the staple 72 down. Once the blade 34 has substantially completed driving the staple 72 down, the finger 46 no longer substantially counters the force of the pusher 50 so that other staples 74 through 76 can be pushed against the front plates 62, 64.
The stapler 10 may be loaded with staples by a person grasping the pusher handle 92 and sliding the pusher 50 back so that the riding edge 84 rides up the slot 80 and the notch of the pusher rider 82 latches onto the slot 80. The stapler 10 may then be loaded with staples 70 by placing the staples 70 on the topsail 54. The person may then grasp the handle 92 and lift the pusher 50 so that the notch of the pusher rider 82 is released from the slot 80. The pusher 50 then slides forward from the bias of the spring 52 and holds the staples 70 against the front plates 62, 64.
In alternative embodiments, the finger may be pushed on not directly by the blade but by the action of pushing the pedal. For example, another piece could move with the action of the pedal and push on the finger. Additionally, the finger may be biased down. In alternative embodiments, the finger may be touching the staples even when the finger is not substantially countering the push of the pusher. In alternative embodiments, the blade need not be driven directly by the action of the pedal. For example, the pedal may be pressed down to bias a spring and then once the pedal is pressed down passed a certain point the tension in the spring may be released to drive the blade down.
Although described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, modifications, and substitutions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.