Abstract:
A string dispensing device for attachment to a stapler includes: (a) a string support container including an open top and a bottom container wall, the bottom container wall comprising a central container aperture; (b) a fixed string dispensing arm including a first end portion attached to the string support container; (c) an adjustable stapler attachment mechanism attached to a second, opposite end portion of the string dispensing arm; and (d) a thread guide projecting downwardly from a bottom surface of the string dispensing arm; wherein the string dispensing device does not comprise a motor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a non-motorized string dispensing device for attachment to a stapler, which is useful for dispensing lengths of string to positions under a staple outlet of the stapler. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    Even on a comparatively windless day, it is difficult to attach felt, also called tar paper or shingle underlayment, to a building roof, walls, or other surface. Once the roofing felt is attached, roof shingles can be attached on top of the felt. Roofers and carpenters sometimes attempt to attach roofing felt with tacks or button caps, but strong winds easily blow and tear the roofing felt off. Lengths of string can be laid along the edges of the felt to hold the felt down. Unfortunately, it takes both hands and a great deal of time for a worker to lay felt on a roof, wall, or other surface, particularly on a roof with a dangerously steep pitch. The worker must intermittently staple each string line down. Wind gusts or inclement weather can further complicate the task. 
         [0005]    The present invention is a string dispensing device for attachment to a stapler. The string dispensing device can be attached to the stapler during manufacture of the stapler, or the string dispensing device can be sold separately and easily attached to a conventional stapler by the user. The present invention can be used to quickly apply string tautly to felt on a surface of a roof, walls, or any other suitable surface. Once the task is done, the string dispensing device remains in place on the stapler, or it can quickly be removed from the stapler and stored so that the stapler can be used for its conventional purpose. In the latter case, the string dispensing device can quickly be reattached to the same stapler, or another stapler, when desired. 
         [0006]    The present invention benefits end users by decreasing the amount of time workers must spend working on a roof or in another work location, and helping to soundly secure the felt to the roof, wall, or other surface for a longer period of time. The user can easily operate the single unit stapler/string dispensing device with only one hand, leaving the user&#39;s other hand free to accomplish other important tasks. The string dispensing device of the present invention facilitates stapling lengths of string tautly to felt on a surface of a roof, wall, or other work surface, allowing the task to be accomplished more accurately and in less time. The term “felt” is meant to include tar paper or underlayment herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a string dispensing device for feeding string to a position under a staple outlet of a stapler to which the string dispensing device is attached. The present string dispensing device comprises: (a) a string support container comprising an open top and a bottom container wall, the bottom container wall comprising a central container aperture; (b) a fixed string dispensing arm comprising a first end portion attached to the string support container; (c) an adjustable stapler attachment mechanism attached to a second, opposite end portion of the string dispensing arm; and (d) a thread guide projecting downwardly from a bottom surface of the string dispensing arm; wherein the string dispensing device does not comprise a motor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a string dispensing device according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the string dispensing device according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a string dispensing device according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an end elevational view of the string dispensing device according to  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the string dispensing device according to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a string dispensing device attached to a stapler according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the string dispensing device according to  FIG. 6 , shown attached to the stapler; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the string dispensing device according to  FIG. 6 , shown attached to the stapler. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “front,” “back,” “within,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Referring in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described. 
         [0018]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a non-motorized string dispensing device according to the present invention, generally referred to herein as  10 , is attachable to a stapler  30 . The stapler  30  is a conventional one, or it may be specially manufactured for attachment to the string dispensing device  10 . The stapler  30  may be manually driven or a pneumatically driven stapler gun, as desired. As seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7 , the staple dispensing device  10  is attached alongside the stapler  30 , preferably to the right or left side of the stapler  30 , as desired by the user. 
         [0019]    A preferred pneumatic stapler  30  as shown in  FIG. 6  includes a staple chamber  31 , which supports a re-loadable supply of staples  36 . The staple chamber  31  extends through a lower loading arm  33  of the stapler  30  to a staple outlet  32 . Staples  36  from the staple chamber  31  are dispensed one by one through the staple outlet  32 . The staple outlet  32  preferably extends out an inch or two beyond and generally perpendicular to the lower stapler arm  33 . A stapler handle  34  extends above and generally parallel to the lower stapler arm  33 , as depicted in  FIG. 7 . The staple dispensing device  10  is preferably attached to one side of the stapler  30  at a point between the staple outlet  32  and the stapler handle  34 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The string dispensing device  10  does not interfere with the reloading of staples  36  into the stapler  30 . The string dispensing device  10  is preferably removable from the stapler  30 . It can either remain on the stapler  30 , even when it is not in use, or it can be removed from the stapler  30  and stored. Removing the string dispensing device  10  from the stapler frees the stapler  30  for use for other, conventional purposes. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the string dispensing device  10  includes: (a) a string support container  11  for supporting a ball of string  29 ; and (b) a string dispensing arm  12 . The string used herein is made of any suitable material, such as cotton, polyester, twine, or the like. In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the string support container  11  includes a cylindrical basket  13  with an open top for ease in placing a ball  29  of string in the basket  13  without removing the hand from the stapler  30  with its string dispensing device  10 . The string support container  11  preferably includes a substantially cylindrical side container wall  14  attached along its lower edge to a substantially circular bottom container wall  15 . The basket  13  or other string support container  11  is sized to closely accommodate a standard size ball  29  of string. It has been found that the strand  28  of string is less likely to become tangled if the new ball of string fits closely within the string support container  11 . The basket  13  includes a central container aperture  16  in the bottom container wall  15 . The central container aperture  16  is preferably substantially circular in shape. 
         [0021]    In use, the user grasps the handle  34  of the stapler  30  in one hand, aligns the staple outlet  32  with the desired location for the staple, and depresses a trigger  35  mounted on the stapler  30  with a finger of the same hand (usually the forefinger). Depressing the trigger  35  with a finger of the same hand causes individual staples  36  to be dispensed from the stapler  30 , point down. The user&#39;s other hand is free to accomplish other tasks. The string dispensing device  10  is attached to and moves with the stapler  30 . With a pneumatic stapler, the staples  36  may be dispensed in rapid succession, as desired by the user, through successive depressions on the stapler trigger  35 . The pneumatic stapler typically includes an air hose attached to an air inlet. Between each squeeze of the stapler trigger  35 , the user moves the stapler  30  in the desired direction. As the stapler  30  is moved, the strand of string  28  is automatically dispensed from the string support container  11 . The successive staples  36  fasten the strand of string  28  in place on the felt  37  on the surface of the roof, wall, or other desired substrate (see  FIG. 8 ). The staples  36  may be dispensed quickly or more slowly using the stapler trigger  35 . Thus, two tasks are accomplished (string is dispensed and staples are inserted) with one unit and one hand. In addition to finishing the job more quickly, the job is also accomplished in a safer fashion because the operator is not feeding the string by hand. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the string support container  11  preferably includes an openable cap  17  attached at one point to a top edge of the side wall  14  of the basket  13 . When the container cap  17  is open, the top of the string support container  11  is open for receiving the ball (or spool) of string. The container cap  17  fits over the top opening of the basket  13  or other string support container  11  so that the ball  29  of string is less likely to inadvertently fall out of the basket. This event would be particularly troublesome where the user is working on a building roof. The container cap  17  is preferably made of a clear plastic material so the amount of string remaining in the string support container  11  can be visually estimated without having to open the string support container  11 . 
         [0023]    The circular container cap  17  is preferably attached to the side container wall  14  by a flexible cap strap  18 . The cap strap  18  is preferably affixed at its opposite ends to the top of the container cap  17  and to the outer face of the side container wall  14 , respectively, by cap rivets  19 . 
         [0024]    The container cap  17  optionally includes a cap clasp  38  at a point on the circumference of the cap opposite the point on the cap where the cap strap  18  is attached. When the container cap  17  is closed, the cap clasp  38  clasps the upper, beaded edge  39  of the container wall  14  opposite the cap strap attachment point. The cap clasp  38  helps to ensure that the container cap  17  will not inadvertently open when the string dispensing device  10  is tipped, and allow the ball  29  of string to roll out of the container  11 . 
         [0025]    Alternatively, a detachable or elasticized cord can be used across the diameter of the top of the container instead of a cap, or the top inside edge of the string support container may include a flange (not shown). These impede the exit of the ball of string  29  from the container if the stapler  30 /string support device  10  is dropped or placed on a slanted surface (such as a pitched roof), for example. In this case, the generally flexible ball of string  29  is squeezed in the user&#39;s hand to guide it past the flange, or the cord is detached (where it is detachable) or pushed aside (where it is elasticized) to insert the ball of string  29  into the string support container  11 . 
         [0026]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , about one third to about one half of the length of the string dispensing arm  12  lies adjacent the bottom container wall  15 . This first end portion  12   a  of the string dispensing arm  12  is preferably attached across the bottom surface of the bottom container wall  15 . Thus, the string dispensing arm  12  supports the string support container  11 . An arm aperture  20  of the string dispensing arm  12  is aligned with the same-sized container aperture  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). The edges of the container and arm apertures  16 ,  20  are preferably smooth so the string feed is not impeded. The diameter of the container and arm apertures  16 ,  20  is substantially greater than the diameter of a strand of string. The width of the string dispensing arm  12  is substantially greater than the diameter of the apertures  16 ,  20  and substantially smaller than the diameter of the bottom surface of the string support container  11 . 
         [0027]    Once the string dispensing device  10  is attached to a stapler  30 , the user lifts the container cap  17 , and inserts a ball of string  29  into the string support container  11 . The user feeds the strand of string  28  down through the string support container  11  and the arm and container apertures  16 ,  20  in the basket  13  and the string dispensing arm  12 , respectively. Then the user closes the container cap  17 . 
         [0028]    The remaining about one half to about two thirds of the string dispensing arm  12  supports the stapler attachment mechanism  21 , and a thread guide  22  for guiding the strand of string. As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the thread guide  22  projects down from the bottom surface of the string dispensing arm  12 . The preferred stapler attachment mechanism  21  is attached to (and may be incorporated into) the upper surface of this second end portion  12   b  of the substantially planar string dispensing arm  12  above the thread guide  22 . 
         [0029]    The string dispensing arm  12  preferably detachably attaches to the lower stapler arm  33  between the staple outlet  32  and the stapler handle  34 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . It has been found herein that feeding the strand  28  of string just below the staple outlet  32  decreases the chances that the string will foul. 
         [0030]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , a preferred stapler attachment mechanism  21  includes an upwardly angled end  24  of the string dispensing arm  12 , and a support bracket  25  extending in an upward direction from the string dispensing arm  12 . A first leg  25   a  of the support bracket is substantially parallel to the upwardly angled end  24 . The other, second leg  25   b  of the L-shaped support bracket extends at about a right angle from the end of the first support bracket leg  25   a . The second support bracket leg  25   b  is substantially parallel to the string dispensing arm  12 . The angled arm end  24  comprises two spaced apart angled end apertures  40  (see  FIG. 3 ). A set screw  23  is inserted through each angled end aperture  40 . The angled end aperture  40  is optionally threaded correspondingly to threads of the set screw  23 . The lower stapler arm  33  (or base) of the stapler  30  is insertable in the stapler attachment mechanism  21  between the support bracket  25  and the angled end  24 . Once the string dispensing device  10  is in place, the support bracket  25  and the angled end  24  clasp the opposite sides of the lower stapler arm  33 , as depicted in  FIG. 6-8 . The bottom of the lower stapler arm  33  rests on the upper surface of the second end portion  12   b  of the string dispensing arm between the support bracket  25  and the angled arm end  24 . The set screws  23  are then tightened to hold the stapler  30  in place against the support bracket  25 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0031]    The set screws  23  adjust for fitting the string dispensing device  10  on differently sized staplers  30 . The set screws  23  can be screwed in loosely (for wider lower stapler arms) or tightly (for smaller width lower stapler arms). The support bracket  25  can alternatively be slidable along the string dispensing arm  12  so that different widths of lower stapler arms  33  can be accommodated. In this alternate embodiment (not shown), the bottom of the support bracket  25  is set in a track in the upper surface of the string dispensing arm  12 . 
         [0032]    The strand of string from the spool in the string support container  11  extends in a sideways direction toward the stapler  30  and passes through an eye  41  of the thread guide  22 . The thread guide  22  is preferably hook-shaped and located below the stapler attachment mechanism  22  (see  FIGS. 4 and 7 ). As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a sharpened hook end  26  of the thread guide  22  includes a side cutting notch  27  for cutting the strand  28  of string, if desired. The strand  28  of string entering the thread guide  22  forms about a ninety degree angle with the strand as it exits the thread guide, when the string dispensing device  10  is in use (see  FIG. 6 ). From the thread guide  22 , the strand  28  of string passes beneath the staple outlet  32 . Thus, the strand of string comes into the thread guide  22  from the side (the container  11 ) and then extends forward under the staple outlet  32  when the string dispensing device  10  is in use. 
         [0033]    To cut the string, the operator pulls the strand  28  slightly up out of the thread guide eye  41  and sideways down across the V-shaped cutting notch  27  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The operator can then begin a new row of string by rethreading the end of the strand  28  through the thread guide eye  41 , placing it under the staple outlet  32 , and stapling the end of the string to the roof or other substrate. The remainder of the string segment can then be stapled down as described herein in straight line or zigzag fashion, for example. 
         [0034]    As the operator pulls the stapler  30  along, the strand  28  of string slowly unwinds from the spool (or ball) in the string support container  11 . The strand  28  of string slides easily through the eye  41  of the hook-shaped thread guide  22  (see  FIGS. 4 and 7 ) and is fastened in place on the felt  37  on the surface of the roof or other substrate by staples  36  from the stapler  30  whenever the operator triggers the stapler  30  (see  FIGS. 6-8 ). Each staple  36  from the stapler  30  straddles the string and fastens it to the piece of felt  37  on the roof, wall, or other surface. (The term “felt” herein is meant herein to include tar paper, shingle underlayment, or the like.) Without having to remove his or her hand from the stapler handle  34 , the operator dispenses string and staples the string in place at the same time. When the string in the string support container  11  is used up, a replacement supply, usually a new ball or spool, of string  29  can be placed in the string support container  11  and threaded through the container and arm apertures  16 ,  20  and thread guide  22  as needed. 
         [0035]    The hook-shaped thread guide  22  opens to one side of the string dispensing arm  12  and towards the rear of the stapler  30 , so the strand of string pulls against the curved back  42  of the thread guide as the stapler  30  and string dispensing device  10  is moved and does not pop out of the eye  41  of the thread guide. As is apparent from  FIG. 7 , the open thread guide eye  41  does allow the string to be threaded quickly from the rear. 
         [0036]    From the foregoing it can be realized that the described device of the present invention may be easily and conveniently utilized as a string dispensing device attachable to a stapler. It is to be understood that any dimensions given herein are illustrative, and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0037]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, this description is for illustrative purposes only. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications, substitutions, omissions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and that such are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. It is intended that the doctrine of equivalents be relied upon to determine the fair scope of these claims in connection with any other person&#39;s product which fall outside the literal wording of these claims, but which in reality do not materially depart from this invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 
       BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  string dispensing device 
           11  string support container 
           12  string dispensing arm 
           13  basket 
           14  side container wall 
           15  bottom container wall 
           16  container aperture 
           17  container cap 
           18  cap strap 
           19  cap rivets 
           20  arm aperture 
           21  stapler attachment mechanism 
           22  thread guide 
           23  screws 
           24  angled end 
           25  support bracket 
           26  hook end of thread guide 
           27  thread guide notch 
           28  strand of string 
           29  ball of string 
           30  stapler 
           31  staple chamber 
           32  staple outlet 
           33  lower stapler arm 
           34  stapler handle 
           35  stapler trigger 
           36  staples 
           37  felt 
           38  cap clasp 
           39  beaded container edge 
           40  angled end apertures 
           41  thread guide eye 
           42  thread guide back