Abstract:
A stapler comprising a base, a cartridge in pivotal relation to the base at a cartridge pivot axis, the cartridge configured to contain at least two rows of staples and a lever arm in pivotal relation to the base at a lever pivot axis. In an embodiment, the device includes a moveable driving member for selectively positioning the driving member in driving relation to each of the at least two rows for driving staples from the at least two rows. In operation, this invention permits an individual to load a stapler with multiple sized staples. This eliminates the need to continuously load and unload different sized staples from a single row stapler.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    n/a 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    n/a 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a multi-capacity stapler and in particular to a multi-capacity stapler operable to hold two sized staples. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Staplers commonly include a base and an assemblage in pivoting relation to the base for driving a staple into a stack of paper for joining that stack of paper together. The assemblage includes a cartridge that houses a row of staples. Staplers commonly include a lever arm in conjunction with the assemblage for applying sufficient force to puncture a stack of paper on a front side and cause the staple to fold across the back side of the paper stack. The assemblage also commonly includes a driver for driving the staple into and through the stack of paper. 
         [0005]    Heavy duty staplers are capable of accepting various size staples. For example, staple sizes include, without limitation, ¼ inch (6 mm) for stapling approximately 2-30 sheets of paper; ⅜ inch (10 mm) for stapling approximately 25-60 sheets of paper; ½ inch (13 mm) for stapling approximately 40-100 sheets of paper; and ⅝ inch (16 mm) for stapling approximately 70-115 sheets of paper. However, these staplers can only hold one row of staples which are filled with one size of staple at a time. 
         [0006]    The prior art only allows for loading and delivering staples from a single row. Resultantly, a shortcoming of the prior art exists when the stapler is loaded with a particular size staple that is either too large or too small for a particular stack of paper. In an office setting, it is common for professionals to staple paper stacks all day long. For many professionals, the paper stacks are rarely the same size. For example, a professional might have to first staple a stack of thirty sheets that requires a ⅜ inch staple and next staple a stack of one hundred ten sheets requiring a ⅝ inch staple. Thus, the professional must first insert the ⅜ inch staples into the cartridge to staple the thirty sheets. Next, the professional must remove the ⅜ inch staples and insert the ⅝ inch staple to staple the one hundred ten sheets. Having to check which staples are loaded in the stapler is additionally burdensome. Even more burdensome—and far more common—the professional forgets to check the size of the staple in the stapler. This results in the professional using the wrong size staple. In the event that the staple is too small, the staple does not wrap around the back of the stack of paper. Even worse, the ends of the wrong sized staple may stick straight out of the stack of paper. Professionals can prick their fingers on the dangerous staple tips. Alternatively, the professional may use a staple that is too large, in which case, the stapler may jam. Some offices will keep multiple heavy duty staplers to band-aid this shortcoming. However, the multiple staplers do commonly are not labeled, thus, the professional must guess which stapler is loaded with which stapler. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, continuously swapping the row of staples in the assemblage is additionally burdensome. It is particularly burdensome when multiple stacks of paper are printed and each of those stacks contain a different number of pages requiring continuously unloading and loading the stapler with different sized staples. 
         [0008]    An additional shortcoming includes the number of staples that a stapler holds because the prior art is limited to a single row of staples. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device that includes a cartridge capable of maintaining multiple rows of staples. Additionally, there is a need for a device that is configured to select between multiple size staples and/or rows of staples. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention advantageously provides a device, system and method for maintaining and delivery of multi-sized staples. 
         [0011]    According to one embodiment, a stapler is provided. The stapler includes a base. A cartridge in pivotal relation to the base at a cartridge pivot axis. The cartridge configured to contain at least two rows for maintaining staples. A lever arm is in pivotal relation to the base at a lever pivot axis. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment, a device is provided. The device includes a base. A cartridge in pivotal relation to the base at least at a cartridge pivot axis. The cartridge capable of simultaneously containing a first row of a first size of staples and a second row of a second size of staples. A lever arm in pivotal relation to the base at least at a lever pivot axis. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the multi-capacity stapler configured to deliver staples from at least two rows of staples in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the multi-capacity stapler configured to deliver staples from at least two rows of staples in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is side view of the multi-capacity stapler of  FIG. 1  in a first position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the multi-capacity stapler of  FIG. 1  in a second position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the multi-capacity stapler of  FIG. 1  in a third position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the multi-capacity stapler configured to deliver staples from a slidable cartridge in a first position in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the multi-capacity stapler configured to deliver staples from a slidable cartridge in a second position in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the multi-capacity stapler employing a jam clearing mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 1  depicting the slidable driving member in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The present invention advantageously provides—in a first embodiment—a system and method for a multi-capacity stapler configured to maintain and deliver at least two sized staples. The invention further discloses—in an alternative embodiment—a system and method for a multi-capacity stapler configured to maintain and deliver staples from at least two rows of staples, without regard to the staple size. 
         [0024]    Accordingly, the system and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
         [0025]    Referring now to the drawings figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements there is shown in  FIG. 1  an exemplary stapler constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as “ 100 .” In particular, stapler  100  is a heavy duty stapler capable of delivering any sized staple in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Though stapler  100  is depicted as a heavy duty stapler, it is contemplated that any sized stapler—or any type of stapler—that is operable to and/or configured to maintain and deliver at least two sized staples is within the scope of the present invention. Additionally, any stapler capable of holding at least two sized staples simultaneously for selectively delivering between the at least two sized staples is within the scope of the present invention. The stapler may or may not include a base member, as further disclosed herein or otherwise known in the art. Though the purpose of the invention is to load the stapler with two sized staples, it is contemplated that the invention is equally capable of receiving at least two rows of the same size staples for providing a stapler capable of holding more staples than a typical stapler. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  discloses a heavy duty stapler  100 . The stapler includes a lever  102 . The lever is configured for receiving a force by a user. The lever causes a staple to be driven into a selected material. Materials are defined as any material capable of receiving a staple, including without limitation, a stack of paper, wood, and human skin. The lever is secured on two sides in a pivoting relation about a first axis  134  to the stapler cartridges  124  and/or a bracket  135 . Further the bracket  135  is secured to the base  130 . The bracket  135  may be defined as a portion of the base. The lever is further coupled in pivoting relation about a second axis  136  to the base  130 . The cartridge(s)  124  are additionally coupled in pivoting relation about the second axis  136 . Although the lever is depicted such that the lever is indirectly coupled to the base, it is contemplated that the lever may be coupled directly or indirectly to the base. Further is it contemplated that the cartridge and lever may be configured in any known stapler configuration. Springs  132  exerts a force on the cartridges  124  and the lever  102 . The springs  132  are configured to maintain the cartridges  124  in a first ready position depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 . Further, springs  132  cause the cartridges  124  to return to the first ready position after the downward force received on the lever  102  is removed. Lever springs  137  cause the lever  102  to return to the first ready position, depicted in  FIG. 1 , after the down force received on the lever  102  is removed. A users force and the springs cause the cartridge and the lever to oscillate as depicted by the first position, second and third position in  FIGS. 3-5 . The oscillation may comprise the up and down movement of cartridge and lever in relation to the base. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the cartridge is defined as the body that maintains and/or holds at least one row of staples. Commonly the staples are held within the body of the cartridge, however, it is not necessary that the staples are enclosed within the cartridge. 
         [0028]    The lever, further depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , includes an aperture  104 . The aperture permits a slidable member  106  to move about the aperture. The aperture may be as large as necessary to permit operation of the lever. The slidable member  106  is configured to move a driving member  108  from a first position to at least a second position. In an exemplary embodiment, the slidable member  106  is configured to move laterally. For example,  FIG. 1  depicts slidable member  106  in a first position, whereas  FIG. 2  depicts slidable member  106  in a third position. In operation, the first position causes during stapler operation—driving member  108  to drive a staple from a first row  138  of staples (staples hidden by cartridge). The second position (not shown) causes—during stapler operation—driving member  108  to drive a staple from a second row  140  (middle row) of staples (staples hidden by cartridge). The third position causes—during stapler operation—driving member  108  to drive a staple from a third row  142  of staples (staples hidden by cartridge). There can be an infinite number of rows without departing from the spirit and/or scope of the instant invention. An important aspect of the instant embodiment includes at least two rows of staples. Preferably, the two rows comprise at least two sized staples. However, it is contemplated that the two rows of staples may be the same size staples. As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9 , the stapler includes three rows of different sized staples  110 ,  112  and  114 . 
         [0029]    Alternatively, the spirit of the present invention contemplates the stapler receiving two sized staples, in any number of rows or columns, for selectively driving at least two size staples. In this alternative, the staples may be loaded into one single row. The stapler may selectively drive staples on each side of the one row, thus permitting one row of at least two sized staples that may be selectively driven into paper, wood, or any other material that accepts staples. 
         [0030]    Material capable of receiving staples may additionally include any material capable of accepting staples without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention, including without limitation, paper, wood, human skin, and etc. 
         [0031]    Further depicted in  FIG. 9  is a cross section view of the stapler for depicting how the driving member is moved over the at least two rows of staples. The moveable member  106  and driving member  108  slides laterally for positioning above at least one staple in a particular row of staples. There should be sufficient space between the distal end of driving member  108  and cartridge sidewalls  152  to allow the driving to slide freely, unobstructed and without contacting the sidewalls when the lever is in the first position, the first position depicted by  FIG. 3 . The moveable member may snap into place above any of each row of staples  110 ,  112  and  114  so that—during stapler operation—the driving member  108  does not contact any of the top of any of the plurality of sidewalls  122  of the stapler cartridges  124 . The moveable member  106  may include a friction locking mechanism for holding the moveable member  106  and driving member  108  in place. The Moveable member  106  and/or driving member  108  may lock into place so that user manipulation and/or other electronic control is required to unlock and move moveable member  106  and/or driving member  108 . For example,  FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary friction locking mechanism. This embodiment includes a bearing  171  and spring  163  within the moveable member  106 . The spring provides a downward force for maintaining the bearing  171  within an aperture  165 . This allows the user to feel when the driving member  108  is properly positioned to drive a particular row of staples. In  FIG. 9 , the bearing causes the driving member to be maintained over the first row of staples  138 . When the user, or mechanically actuated movement, slides the moveable member  106  and driving member  108  to the second row of staples  140 , the bearing will rest within aperture  165  for causing the proper alignment of the second row  140 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  additionally depicts three rows of staples  142 , each of the staples being three different sizes. Cartridge sidewalls  152  are depicted for containing the staples  142 .  FIG. 9  further depicts stack of paper  128  positioned for accepting a staple. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, the moveable member slides laterally along bar  116 . Bar  116  include two ends  148  and  150 . The bar is secured at each end  148  and  150  to lever  102  sidewalls  144  and  146 . Alternatively, the bar  116  may be directly or indirectly coupled to the lever  102 . The moveable member  106  is configured to move laterally in relation to bar  116  and lever  102 . Moveable member  106  and driver member  108  may or may not move in direct relation to lever  102  without departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the multi-capacity stapler configured to deliver staples from at least two rows of staples. The slidable member  106  is in a third position for delivering staples from an alternative row of staples.  FIG. 2  particularly depicts the driver member  108  configured to deliver staples from a third row  142  of the cartridge that maintains a row of staples. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 1 and 2  depict three staple plates  126 . Each staple plate is attached to a stapler base  130 . Each stapler plate  126  receives a staple being driven by driving member  108 . Each stapler plate  126  is shaped at staple shaping aperture  127  to cause distortion and/or shaping of a staple. In a particular operation, each stapler plate  126  causes a driven/received staple to curl into a position against—or otherwise contact—a bottom  138  of a stack of paper  128 . 
         [0036]    In an embodiment, the cartridge may be configured as a single cartridge configured to hold at least two rows of staples. Commonly, staplers include cartridges that slide open to permit replacement of the staples. Alternatively, staplers otherwise open to permit staples to be loaded into the cartridge. In either case, according to this invention, the cartridge is configured to allow replacement of at least two rows of staples at the same time. Thus, the cartridge may be configured to allow replacement of all of the rows of staples at the same time. Thus, accessing one row of the cartridge permits a user to access at least a second row of the cartridge for refilling or replacing the staples of that second or more rows. For further example, a tray may slide open that includes at least two rows of staples wherein the at least two rows are situated parallel to one another. In this embodiment, the cartridge opens to allow replacement of at least two rows of staples. 
         [0037]    Alternatively, the cartridge may be configured to permit individual replacement of a row of staples. In this alternative embodiment, at least one row of the cartridge remains inaccessible during replacement of another row of the cartridge with a row of staples. Wherein a row of a cartridge is defined as a row configured to contain a row of staples. Although it is contemplated that the cartridge in this alternative permits individual access to the row of the cartridge for replacing a single row of staples, it is contemplated that those rows could still selectively be replaced at the same time by the user individually opening or interacting with the individual rows of the cartridge for refilling the rows at the same time. However, in this alternative, the user is not forced to access more than one row at the same time. For example, the cartridge may include two trays, wherein each tray slides open without relation to the other tray. Further contemplated is that the cartridge includes at least two bays that may be accessed individually for individually and separately loading each row of staples. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment, multiple cartridges may be configured to each hold at least one row of staples. In this embodiment, each cartridge opens individually to permit replacement of the at least one row of staples for each cartridge. Alternatively, each cartridge may open in unison to permit replacement of rows of staples. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  depicts a multi-capacity stapler in a first position. The lever  102  in the starting position is configured to allow a hand to encompass the lever for applying downward pressure for driving a staple into a stack of paper. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  depicts a multi-capacity stapler in a second position. In operation, the lever  102  is in a second position. In the second position, the cartridges  124  move downward against the top  140  of a stack of paper  128 . The cartridge pivots bout the axis and/or moves downward in relation to the base  130 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  depicts a multi-capacity stapler in a third position. In operation, the lever  102  is a third position wherein the lever  102  and the cartridge  124  has moved downward in relation to the base  130  for driving a staple. In the third position shows the lever  102  having caused the driver member  108  to drive a staple into and through a stack of paper  128 . Further, pressure from the driving member  108  causes the staple to curl around the back  138  of the stack of paper  128 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show an alternative embodiment where the stapler having a cartridge or cartridges are configured to slide laterally for selectively placing a staple from at least row of staples below a driving member  108 . In this configuration, the driving member  108  does not move laterally. Instead, the cartridge will move laterally to position a staple from at least two rows of staples in a position to be driven into a stack of paper  130 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  depict to rows of staples, however, it is contemplated that any number of rows may be utilized. The cartridges  124  move laterally caused by user interaction.  FIGS. 6 and 7  depict two rows of staples  143 . The two rows of staples  143  are each maintained by the cartridge  124 . The first row  161  and the second row  181  may be slid laterally under the driving member  108  for causing a staple to be driven into a material, such as a stack of paper. The driving member  108 , upon the lever receiving a force, causes a staple be ejected from the stapler and more specifically to be ejected from the cartridge. In an embodiment, even though the staples share driving member  108 , the staples may be ejected independently in the sense that they are ejected and/or driven without relation and/or independent to the other rows of staples.  FIG. 6  depicts the first row  161  in position to be driven by driving member  108 .  FIG. 7  depicts the second row  181  in position to be driven by driving member  108 . While  FIGS. 6&amp;7  depict two rows of staples, any number of two or more rows may be implemented within the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows an anti-jamming member  159  being moved into a vertical position. When the user operates the stapler by applying a downward force on lever  102 , the cartridge will remain in the first position (or only move partially downward)—similar to FIG.  3 —and the driving member will move into the third position—similar to  FIG. 5 . This may otherwise be defined as restraining the cartridge for preventing the cartridge from contacting the stapler plate. This will allow space for ejecting staples from the cartridge and/or otherwise un-jamming the stapler, as all too commonly, the staples simply cannot be ejected because the jammed staples are being pushed against the stapler plate. In an embodiment, the cartridge may be locked into place for allowing space for ejecting staples. Alternatively, an anti-jamming base member (not pictured) may be coupled to the base  130  wherein the anti-jamming base member may rise or be otherwise positioned to prevent the cartridge from moving fully downward, thus allowing space to eject a plurality of jammed staples. Commonly, staples become jammed because there is not enough room for the jammed staple(s) to exit the stapler. This aspect of the invention overcomes the shortcomings of the anti-jamming methods currently known. 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.