A simplified fastening tool which uses the energy stored in a spring to install fasteners by an impact blow is disclosed. A housing body is preferably cast or molded. A one-piece plastic hand lever is pivotably attached to the body where the pivoting action is by sliding in a circular arcuate channel. A staple feeding track is slidably mounted to the bottom of the housing and includes a rear end element with forwardly extending resilient latching elements to secure the track. A hand grip opening extends forward up to the plunger and the hand lever is hinged at the rear of the housing.
This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/694,815, filed on Aug. 9, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,742, entitled "Light Duty, Forward Acting Stapling Machine," whose entire contents are hereby incorporated by reference.
Described is a hand-held stapler that can be supported in the palm of a user's hand, so that both of the user's hands are available to position and hold items before and during stapling. The stapler includes an egg-shaped or domed stapler head conforming to and fitting against the user's palm, and a strap to hold the domed surface against the palm while freeing the user's fingers for positioning and holding the item to be stapled. A staple magazine carried on the staple head is moveable from an uncompressed position to a compressed position to discharge a staple when the stapler is pressed against a surface. A support base may be included to support the stapler head and magazine when not in use.
A forward acting stapler includes a unique linkage for driving a firing lever. The linkage includes two links which are each connected to the trigger lever by a roller. The roller is movable within a spot in the trigger lever. As the handle is driven, the two links cause the triggering level to pivot. As the trigger lever pivots it lifts a plunger against a spring force. At some point, the trigger portion releases the plunger allowing the plunger to be returned by the spring force by a staple.
A desktop stapler uses a spring to store energy to install staples by impact blow. The force required to fasten papers together is reduced. A very compact mechanism is used, including a dual coil power spring with a nested lever. A multi function base provides a sloped front all the way to down to a desk top surface to guide paper sheets atop the base, easy access for lifting the stapler off a desk, horizontal or vertical resting positions, and integrated soft grip under-surface. The base surrounds the rear of the stapler body to provide a smooth exterior so that the device is natural to use both horizontally and vertically. A simple re-set spring provides a smooth re-set action as the handle is raised. A staple track includes enlargement features to fit a larger staple pusher spring.
The present invention provides a stapler with a novel leaf spring actuation mechanism. According to the teaching of the present invention, the stapler comprises a striking plate for dispensing a staple from a staple magazine, a leaf spring engaged with the striking plate for driving the striking plate, and an actuation bar for lifting the leaf spring from a first position to a second position whereby lifting the striking plate from an initial position to a release position in which the leaf spring is released from the actuation bar to drive the striking plate towards the initial position. Preferably, a pair of lugs on the actuation bar pushes up a pair of tabs on the leaf spring when an L-shaped front end of the actuation bar moves upward along a ramp when an external force is applied to the actuation bar during the stapling operation.
