A spring energized stapler includes a "high start" design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.

The stapling apparatus of the present invention comprises a base member and a magazine member for accommodating a set of staples, each member having a first end and a second end, and the two members being pivotably connected to each other at the first ends. The stapling apparatus further comprises a striking plate for individually dispensing the staples upon actuation by a striker spring, and a triggering mechanism for triggering the actuation of the striker spring. In particular, the triggering mechanism comprises a triggering lever arranged such that the triggering lever triggers the actuation of the striker spring when the second ends of the two members are moved toward each other.

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.

A combination device incorporating stapling and tape dispensing functions. The combination device has a conventional stapler comprising stapling and staple-forming legs, and a roll-shaped tape dispenser disposed within a cavity defined on an upper surface of the stapling leg. The cavity is permanently exposed to an exterior of the device for retaining a roll-shaped tape of various size, and for quick access thereto. It further has an ergonomically contoured hand grip on each leg and advertising material imprinted disposed on at least one its outer surface.

A forward acting stapler includes a unique linkage for driving a firing lever. The linkage includes two links that 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.