Disposable stapler

Claim 2

An elongated molding for assembly into a stapler, comprising a body section (11) at one end, a trigger (13) section presenting a trigger (33) at an opposite end, and a handle section (12) between and interconnecting the body and trigger sections, the trigger presenting a body aperture (43) sufficiently wide for the body section to be inserted into it, the handle section including a portion (27) which can be flexed to permit the trigger to be brought forwardly over the front end of the body section and the body section inserted into the aperture so that the trigger extends obliquely to the body section, the handle section in use forming a pistol grip (48) by which the stapler is held.

Claim 3

A molding as claimed in claim 1 further including means (34) for connecting the trigger to the body section for pivotal movement toward the grip.

Claim 4

An elongated molding for assembly into a stapler, comprising a body section (11) at one end, a trigger section (13) presenting a trigger (33) at an opposite end, a handle section (12) between and interconnecting the body and trigger section, the handle section adapted to form a pistol grip (48) by bending back on itself, and means (34) for pivotally mounting the trigger angularly to the body section, in front of the grip.

Claim 5

An elongated molding for assembly into a stapler, comprising a body section (11) at one end, a trigger section (13) presenting a trigger (33) at an opposite end, a handle section (12) between and interconnecting the body and trigger section, the handle section adapted to form a pistol grip (48) by bending back on itself, and means (34) for pivotally mounting the trigger angularly to the body section, in front of the grip.

Claim 6

A molding as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the handle section includes a front part (26), a rear part (28), and a flexible butt part (27) connecting the front and rear parts, whereby the rear part can be swung generally parallel to the front part to form the pistol grip (48).

Claim 7

A molding as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the trigger section extends from the rear part (28) of the handle section.

Claim 8

A molding as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the mounting/connecting means comprises stub axle means (34) integral with and projecting from the trigger, the axle means being receivable in co-acting holes (22) in the body section.

Claim 9

A molding as claimed in any preceding claim further including a staple driver (35), the body section including a driver guide channel (20) into which the driver can be inserted as the body section is being inserted into the body aperture (43), the channel positioning the driver for longitudinal movement in the body section.

Claim 10

A molding as claimed in claim 7 wherein the driver (35) is formed between sides (94 and 95) of the trigger (33).

Claim 11

A molding as claimed in either claim 7 or 8 wherein the trigger section includes driver advancing means (40) connecting the trigger to the driver for advancing the driver in the channel when the trigger is pulled.

Claim 12

A molding as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the trigger includes pivot means (34) connectable to the body so that the trigger can be pivoted toward the grip, the trigger having a top part (97) which in use is above the pivot means and which moves forwardly as the trigger is pulled toward the grip, and driver advancing means comprising at least one strap (40) connected between the top part of the trigger and the driver.

Claim 13

A molding as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 including a driver retract spring (36) comprising a spring portion between the grip and the driver, the spring portion being stressed in use as the trigger is pulled, so that it exerts a retracting force on the driver.

Claim 14

A molding as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the handle section includes a front part (26), a rear part (28), and latch means (29, 29a) for securing the parts together.

Claim 15

A molding as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body section includes a staple supply (55) and a staple feed spring (17) for urging the supply toward a staple guide passage (15) in the body section.

Claim 16

A molding as claimed in claim 13 wherein the staple supply (55) is located below the guide passage (15) to feed staples into it at substantially a right angle thereto.

Claim 17

A molding as claimed in either claim 13 or 14 further including an anvil (18) on the body section at a front end of the guide passage, the anvil having a depth approximating the thickness of a staple.

Claim 18

A stapler comprising a trigger (33) pivotally connected to a stapler body (11) and swingable rearwardly about its pivot towards a pistol grip (48), a driver (35) slidable in the stapler body in a driver guide channel (20) therein, the trigger including a top part (97) which rotates forwardly when the trigger is pivoted toward the grip, and strap means (40) connected between the top part of the trigger and the driver, to pull the driver in the guide channel as the trigger is pulled.

Claim 19

A stapler comprising a trigger (33) pivotally connected to a stapler body (11) and swingable rearwardly about its pivot towards a pistol grip (48), a driver (35) slidable in the stapler body in a driver guide channel (20) therein, the trigger including a top part (97) which rotates forwardly when the trigger is pivoted toward the grip, and strap means (40) connected between the top part of the trigger and the driver, to pull the driver in the guide channel as the trigger is pulled.

Claim 20

A stapler as claimed in claim 16 wherein the stapler body extends through a body aperture (43) in the trigger.

Claim 21

A stapler as claimed in claim 16 wherein the trigger includes two sides (94 and 95) connected by a transverse web (96), the body aperture (43) being presented between the sides.

Claim 22

A stapler as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the trigger is connected to the stapler body by stub axle means (34) projecting from the trigger, the axle means being received in co-acting holes (22) in the stapler body.

Claim 23

A stapler as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein the driver (35) is formed integrally with the trigger, and is connected to it by the strap means (40).

Claim 24

A stapler as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 further including a staple supply (55) and a staple feed spring (17) for urging the supply toward a staple guide passage (15), and a backup spring (38) extending from the driver and which is brought into assisting relation with the feed spring as the driver is moved to engage a staple in the guide passage.

Claim 25

A stapler as claimed in claim 21 wherein the feed spring is formed with a bent knee (83), and the backup spring engages the feed spring between the knee and the driver.

Claim 26

A stapler as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22 further including ratchet means (37, 21) for preventing the driver from being withdrawn from a staple once the driver has engaged the stapler, the ratchet means including a rack (37) mounted to and moving with the driver, and a pawl (21) mounted to the body.

Claim 27

A stapler for forming a staple which in its open configuration has a rounded centre section, intermediate sections extending upwardly and outwardly from the centre section at inner bends, the intermediate sections forming an obtuse angle between them, and parallel, straight outer legs joined to the respective intermediate sections by outer bends and forming angles with the intermediate section, the legs terminating in pointed tips, the angulation of the inner and outer bends being sufficient that, when the staple is closed by flattening the centre section, the straight legs project toward the centre section to form a "B" shape, the stapler having an anvil (18) for engaging the centre section of the staple, a driver (35) movable to push the stapler against the anvil, the driver having a staple-engaging end (53) which is of stepped shape and which engages the staple progressively closer to the centre as the staple is closed, the end having a pair of outer recesses (86) for initially engaging the staple at the outer bends and for applying force to bring the tips toward one another as the centre section of the staple is driven against the anvil, the centre section being partly straightened thereby, the driver also having a pair of inner recesses (87) for engaging the inner bends of the staple after the legs of the staple have been displaced angularly toward one another, to complete the closure of the staple.

Claim 28

A stapler for forming a staple which in its open configuration has a rounded centre section, intermediate sections extending upwardly and outwardly from the centre section at inner bends, the intermediate sections forming an obtuse angle between them, and parallel, straight outer legs joined to the respective intermediate sections by outer bends and forming angles with the intermediate section, the legs terminating in pointed tips, the angulation of the inner and outer bends being sufficient that, when the staple is closed by flattening the centre section, the straight legs project toward the centre section to form a "B" shape, the stapler having an anvil (18) for engaging the centre section of the staple, a driver (35) movable to push the stapler against the anvil, the driver having a staple-engaging end (53) which is of stepped shape and which engages the staple progressively closer to the centre as the staple is closed, the end having a pair of outer recesses (86) for initially engaging the staple at the outer bends and for applying force to bring the tips toward one another as the centre section of the staple is driven against the anvil, the centre section being partly straightened thereby, the driver also having a pair of inner recesses (87) for engaging the inner bends of the staple after the legs of the staple have been displaced angularly toward one another, to complete the closure of the staple.

Claim 29

A stapler having a staple guide passage (15) wherein staples are sequentially engaged by a driver (35) and are formed against an anvil (18), a supply (55) of staples positioned to be fed into the passage for engagement by the driver, a feed spring (17) biasing the supply toward the passage, and a supplementary spring (38) movable into engagement with the feed spring to supply additional force thereto when the driver is moved to engage a staple from the supply.

Claim 30

A stapler having a staple guide passage (15) wherein staples are sequentially engaged by a driver (35) and are formed against an anvil (18), a supply (55) of staples positioned to be fed into the passage for engagement by the driver, a feed spring (17) biasing the supply toward the passage, and a supplementary spring (38) movable into engagement with the feed spring to supply additional force thereto when the driver is moved to engage a staple from the supply.

Claim 31

A stapler as claimed in claim 25 wherein the supplementary spring (38) moves with the driver.

Claim 32

A stapler as claimed in eilther claim 25 or 26 wherein the feed spring is a cantilever leaf spring (17), and wherein the supplementary spring has a tip (82) which is engageable against the feed spring.

Claim 33

A stapler as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein the feed spring has a bent knee (83), and the supplementary spring slides over the knee as the driver is advanced.