GB2480936A

GB2480936A - A stapler comprising a drive member that engages a rear portion of a drive arm

Info

Publication number: GB2480936A
Application number: GB1114108A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zhe Shen
Original assignee: Acco Brands USA LLC
Current assignee: Acco Brands USA LLC
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2007-12-20
Publication date: 2011-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-20
Also published as: GB201114108D0; GB2480936B

Abstract

A stapler 10 comprises a base 14, a magazine 18, a drive arm 22, a drive member 66 and a handle 26 pivotally coupled to the base 14. The drive arm 22 includes a front portion 122 proximate a front end 34 of the base, and a rear portion 130 proximate the rear end 38 of the base 14, and is pivotally coupled to the base 14 about a first pivot axis 74 and operable to drive a staple from the magazine 18. The drive member 66 is supported by the handle 26 rearwardly of the first pivot axis 74 such that when the handle 26 pivots relative to the base 14 the drive member 66 engages the rear portion 130 of the drive at-in 22 to pivot the drive arm 22 about the first pivot axis 74. The magazine 18 is also pivotally coupled to the base 14 at the first pivot axis 74.

Description

PAPER TOOL CONSTRUCTION

BACKGROUND

OOfl1J The present invention relates to paper tools and, more particulari y to constructions ol paper tools Ibr reduced three input requirements.

[0002j Staplers arc commonly used to impart a staple through one or more sheets to bind the sheets together. Tynieallv,. a stonier includes a base, a magazine pivotall mounted to the ba'e, and a drive arm nciuding a driver that can three a staple trol the magazine through the sheets.

The drie aim is pivotal! mounted to eithtr the magazine or the base and is usually directly engaged by a usei to drive the staple. Other paper tOOlS. such as punches and trinnmers1eutters, can mciude smnlai components constructedm a similar manner to staplers.

SUMMARY

[0003J in one embodiment, the invention provides a paper tool including a base having a iront end and a rear end and a drive arm pivotally coupled to the base about a first pivot axis.

The drive ann includes a front portion proximate the front end of the base and a reir portion proximate the rear end of the base. [lie paper tool also includes a handle pivotallv coupled to the base and a drive member supported by the handle rearwardly of the first pivot axis such that.

when the. handle pivots relative to the base, the drive member engages the rear portion of the drive arm to pivot the drive;:lrrn about a first pivot axis.

1000.4] In sone ernhodi meats, the paper Wol can be a stapler including a magazine PiVOtaliY coupled to the base and a driver coupled to the dove arm. The driver is operable to drive a staple from the magazine.

10005 In other embodiments, the paper tool can be a punch mncluding a punch i3i coupled to the drive arm. The punch jii ii is operable to punch a sheet.

100061 in further embodiments, the paner toot can be a tnirnnicr including a euumg blade coupled to the drive arm. The cutting blade is operable, to cut a sheet, (0007j Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed

description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0008] Fig. I is a perspective view of a stapler embodying the present invention.

[0009] Fig. 2 is a side view of the stapler of Fig. 1 shown without a housing assembly and in a rest or raised static position.

10010] Fig. 3 is an exploded rear perspective view of the stapler of Fig. 1 [00111 Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the stapler of Fig 1 shown in the rest position.

[0012] Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the stapler of Fig. I shown in a stapling or lowered operating position.

[00131 Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the stapler of Fig. I shown in an open position.

10014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a slider for use with the stapler shown in Fig. 1.

[0015] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a hole punch according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Fig. 7 is a side view of a paper cutter according to a third embodiment of the invention.

(00171 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a stapler according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

(0018] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the stapler of Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustratcd in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology u'ed hrrin m. Ibr th rmrnn nfdert-rnt-n rrl thm1d nnt he recrAed ltmttw T1i' ne rearwardly of the first pin 70 (i.e., closer to the rear end 38 of the base 14), but at substantially the same height, or elevation, as the first pin 70. In some embodiments, the second pin 78 may be positioned at a different height than the first pin 70 [0023] In the illustrated embodiment, each flange 42 also includes a generally square window 86 (Fig. 2) configured to receive a magazine pin 90. The illustrated magazine pin 90 moves within the windows 86 and limits the pivoting range of the magazine 18 relative to (e.g., away from) the base 14.

[0024] The illustrated magazine iSis pivotally coupled to the base 14 about the first pivot axis 74 by the first pin 70. As shown in Figs. 4A-4C, the magazine 18 is biased away from the base 14 by a biasing member 92. In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 92 is a coil spring, although other suitable biasing members may also be employed.

[0025] The illustrated magazine 18 defines a chamber 94 configured to retain staples and includes two downwardly extending tabs 98. The illustrated tabs 98 correspond to the windows 86 in the flanges 42 of the base 14 and support the magazine pin 90. A slot 102 at the front of the magazine 18 is configured to pass a staple out of the chamber 94.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the magazine 18 also includes an elongated opening 106 on each sidewall 110 of the magazine 18. The openings 106 receive corresponding protrusions 114, or detents, of the case 20 to limit the pivotal movement of the case 20 and the drive arm 22 away from the magazine 18. However, the illustrated protrusions 114 extend only partially into the openings 106 such that the protrusions 114 may be manually released out of the openings 106 to open the case 20 and the drive arm 22 relative to the magazine 18, facilitating refilling of the chamber 94 with staples.

100271 The illustrated case 20 is also pivotally coupled to the base 14 by the first pin 70. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4A, the case 20 is partially received within the magazine 18 to help define the chamber.94. The case 20 includes two shoulders 115 (Fig. 3) that engage an upper surface of the magazine 18 to pivot the magazine 18 about the first pivot axis 74 toward the base 14 when the case 20 pivots toward the base 14.

[00281 As shown in Figs. 4A4C, a pusher assembly 116 is supported between the magazine 18 ard the case 20 in the chamber 94. The illustrated pusher assembly 116 indudes a slide member 11 7 nd hiain memhr (e ini1 snrin (rwt shnwn\ Th h in�ri,mher OO31J The illustrated handle 26 is pivotally coupled to the base 14 about the second pivot axis 82 by the second pin 78. As shown in Fig. 3, the handle 26 includes two flanges 142 etendinc clnwnwardllv from g rear nortion 146 of the handle 26 i he il1ustrtd 14 the handle 26 away from the base 14. When the handI2ô, arid thereby the drive ami 22 and the case 20, is pivoted about the second pivot axis 82 away from the base 14 (as shown in Fig. 4C), 4r 1' 4 A,-n,..1 OO361 As shown in Figs. 4A and 48, the front portion 122 of the drive arm 22 (eg., a point approximately above the driver 120 when the stapler 10 is in an actuated, or operating, position) moves a first pivot distance relative to the base 14 (ie., from a first distance G to a second base 14, As the drive mernbr 66 pivots away from the base 14, the drive member 66 exerts an upward force on the lower surface 162 of the drive win 22, pivoting the rear portion 130 of the drive irrn,)7 wy frnm the hce hi nci the &nn tici,-19 efFh dr,' T nd threhr pin 384 to push the punch pin 384 against the bias of the biasing member 388 toward the base 214, punching a hole in the sheets.

[0043] Fig. 7 illustrates a paper tool 410 according to still another embodiment of the n, fl -generally linear portions 134 of the 1-shaped slots 126 discussed above with reference to Fig. 3.

The horizontal slots 10 provide clearance to allow the drive member 666 to move laterally relative to the drive ani 622 when the handle 626 is nivnted LOOSI] As shown in Fig. 8, similar to the magazine 18 discussed above, the magazine 618 is spaced an opening distance 0' from the base 614 when the stapler 610 is in a rest position.

Accordingly, each of the first and second pivot distances includes an active travel component and a free travel component. In some embodiments, the ratio of the active travel component of the handle 626 to the active travel component of the drive arm 622 or driver 720 is between about 2.8 and about 3.6. In the illustrated embodiment, the ratio is about 3.2.

(00521 In operation, the stapler 610 functions similar to the stapler 10 discussed above.

When an operator presses the front portion 758 of the handle 626 toward the base 614, the handle 626 is pivoted about the second pivot axis 682 such that the rear portion 746 of the handle 626, and thereby the drive member 666, is pivoted away from the base 614, A.s the drive member 666 pivots away from the base 614, the drive member 666 exerts an upward force on the lower surface 762 of the drive arm 622, pivoting the rear portion 730 of the drive arm 622 away from the base 614 and the front portion 722 of the drive arm 622, and thereby the driver 720, toward the base 614. In the illustrated embodiment, when the driver 720 pushes a staple out of the magazine 618 toward the base 614, the staple is bent with the flat clinch mechanism 788, rather than by a stationary anvil.

10053] Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Preferred features of the invention: 1. A paper tool comprising: a base having a front end and a rear end; a drive arm pivotaly coupled to the base about a first pivot axis, the drive arm r4ir'ri frrnf rnrhriri rrrym fhi frrnt inr1 nf fhc hci rd rr nrrhrt from a rest posflon to a stapUrig positon, and a front portion of the hand'e moves a second pivot distance as the handle pivots relative to the base from a rest posftion to a stapUngposWon, and wherein the ratio of the second pivot movement of the pin relative to the drive arm.

23. The stap'er of clause 22, wherein the drive member extends through the slot of the drive arm to allow movement of the drive member relative to the drive arm.

24. The stapler of clause 14, wherein the front portion of the drive arm moves a first pivot distance as the drive arm pivots about the first pivot axis from a rest position to a stapling position, and a front portion of the handle moves a second pivot distance as the handle pivots relative to the base from a rest position to a stapling position, and wherein the ratio of the second pivot distance to the first pivot distance is at least about 1.5, 25. The stapler of clause 24, wherein the ratio is between about I.5 and about 4.0,

Claims

Claims: A Stilpier comprising: a base having a trout end and a rear and: a magazine pivot.alI coupled to the base: a dii ye arm pivotaiiy coupled to the base about a first ivtit axis arid operable tO Uifl'C a staple from the magazine, the drjve. arm including a front portion proximate the front end oi the base and a rear port iOn 1OX urtate the rear end of the base: a handle prvotallv cc)upled to the base; and a drive member supported by the handle rearwardl of the first ph cii axis such that when the handle pivots relative to the base. the drive member engages the rear norttcn ot the drive arm to pivot the drive ann about the first pivot axis: whet em the magazine is pivotally coupled to the base at the first pivot axis.
2. The. stapi ci ot'eiairn 1. wherein the drive menber includes a roller that enganes the rear portion oi the drive arm to pivot tile drive anti about the first pivot axis.
3. The stauler of claim I. wherein file drive member includes a sliding contact surthce that en ages the rear portion of the drrse arm to pivot the drive ann about the first pivot axis.
4. The stapler of claim i, further euTnfl sing a housinu assentblv including a first housing portion surrounding at I east a. portIon of the base and a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portton and surrounding at least a portrort oldie handle.
5. Ihe stapler of eiatm I, wherein the drive member extends through a portion of the drive ann. and wherein the drive arm includes a slot to allow movement of' the drive member relative to the drive ann.
6. The stapler of claim I wherein the handle is pivotallv coupled to the base about a second Divot axis disposed rearwardly of the Iirt pivot axis.
7. The stapler of' claim 6. wnerenr the first pivot axis is spaced a first distance ftotn rite second pivot axis and is spaced a second dtstance from a center of the drive member, and wherein the ratio of the first distance to the second distance is between about 0.35 and about 0.65.
8. The stapler of claim 1, further comprising a pin coupling the handle to the base and defining a second pivot axis, wherein the pin extends through a portion of the drive arm, and wherein the drive arm includes a slot to allow movement of the pin relative to the drive arm.
9. The stapler of claim 8, wherein the drive member extends through the slot of the drive arm to allow movement of the drive member relative to the drive arm.
10. The stapler of claim 1, wherein, the front portion of the drive arm moves a first pivot distance as the drive ann pivots about the first pivot axis from a rest position to a stapling position, and a front portion of the handle moves a second pivot distance as the handle pivots relative to the base from a rest position to a stapling position, and wherein the ratio of the second pivot distance to the first pivot distance is at least about 1,5.
11. The stapler of claim 10, wherein the ratio is between about 1.5 and about 4.0.