Abstract:
A turf stapler is disclosed having, in one embodiment, a reciprocating, manually operated plunger with a pin that engages a recess in a reciprocating ram, causing the ram to eject staplers into a ground cover and the ground.

Description:
[0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/605,524, filed on Aug. 31, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention is an improved turf stapler for stapling netting, ground cover, seams, sod, mats, blankets and the like used in gardening, landscaping, grounds keeping, and erosion control.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In landscaping, gardening and grounds keeping, sod and other ground covers are often laid over prepared areas. When freshly prepared ground is seeded, various ground covers and mats may be placed over the newly seeded ground to protect it and preserve moisture. At construction sites and similar areas where land is disturbed, ground covers, including plastic or resin mats or nettings, are placed over the disturbed ground to control erosion and promote the growth of natural foliage and grasses.  
         [0004]     In each of the above instances, it is important that the ground cover chosen remain in place until the desired grasses and foliages are established, or to maintain erosion control. Consequently, the ground cover chosen must resist the effects of wind, precipitation or animal activity. Steel or resin staples can be used to keep ground covers in place. These staples are used to staple the ground cover to the ground itself. Various staples and staplers are commercially available to accomplish this task, including manual staplers with extended handles that may be used to staple ground covers from a standing position.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to one aspect of the invention, a turf stapler is provided which comprises a receiver, a magazine, a ram, and a plunger, wherein the receiver includes a track within which the ram reciprocates, the receiver further includes a barrel within which the plunger reciprocates, the plunger includes a recess, and the pin engages the recess such that reciprocating motion of the plunger controls reciprocating motion of the ram. In this aspect of the invention, the ram may be a close sliding fit in said track, the plunger may be a loose sliding fit in the barrel, and the pin may be a loose fit in the recess.  
         [0006]     According to a further aspect of the invention, a turf stapler is provided which comprises a receiver, a magazine, a ram, a plunger, and a means for engaging said plunger with the ram such that reciprocating motion of the plunger controls reciprocating motion of the ram, wherein the receiver includes a track within which the ram reciprocates. The receiver further includes barrel within which said plunger reciprocates. In this aspect of the invention, the ram may be a close sliding fit in the track, the plunger may be a loose sliding fit in the barrel, and the pin may be a loose sliding fit in the recess. Further in this aspect of the invention, the sliding removal of the plunger from the barrel causes the sliding removal of the ram from the track. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the turf stapler invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ram of the turf stapler invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of a turf stapler in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional side view of a turf stapler in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of an embodiment of the turf stapler invention along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross section of an embodiment of the turf stapler invention along line B-B of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the turf stapler invention shown loaded with a cartridge of staples;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a sectional side view of the second exemplary embodiment of the turf stapler invention shown loaded with a cartridge of staples;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is across section of an embodiment of the turf stapler invention along line C-C of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top-down view of the second exemplary embodiment of the turf stapler invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     An embodiment of the turf stapler  1  of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This embodiment includes a longitudinal receiver  10 , of approximately square cross section with a base  11 . Longitudinally disposed within the receiver  10  is a ram  12 . Ram  12  is free to reciprocate longitudinally within the receiver  10 . A cylindrical longitudinal barrel  14  is permanently affixed to the receiver opposite the base  11  such that its major axis is parallel to the major axis of the receiver  10 . A rod shaped plunger  16  is longitudinally disposed within the barrel  14 . The plunger  16  is a loose sliding fit within the barrel  14 . A pin  18  is formed in one end of the plunger  16 . The pin  18  is perpendicular to the major axis of the plunger  16 . The pin  18  loosely engages a recess  20  located in a boss  22  formed at one end of ram  12 . A flange  24  is removeably attached to the other end of plunger  16  by a pin  26 , which is disposed within a hole  27  bored through both the flange  24  and plunger  16 . A removable spring bale  29  locks pin  26  in place. A handle  28  is attached to flange  24 . A coil spring  30  envelops plunger  16  and is disposed between the flange  24  and the barrel  14 . The spring  30  biases the handle  28  away from the barrel  14 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a track  50  is formed in the receiver  10  to accommodate the reciprocating movement of ram  12  within the receiver  10 . Track  50  is formed by a central cavity  52  of a rectangular cross section, two inward facing slots  54 , and an aperture  56  facing the axis of the barrel  14 . Two shelves  58  are formed by the surfaces of the two slots  54  adjacent to the aperture  56 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ram  12  is a longitudinal member with a rectangular cross section. A longitudinal tongue  32  is located along one broad side of the ram  12 , forming two longitudinal ears  34  on each narrow side of the ram  12 . The ears  34  of the ram  12  engage in the two slots  54  formed in the receiver  10 , and the tongue  32  of the ram  12  protrudes through the aperture  56  formed in the receiver  10 . The ram  12  is a close sliding fit within track  50 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a longitudinal channel  76  is attached to receiver  10  opposite the aperture  56  and is disposed perpendicular to the major axis of receiver  10 . The web  78  of the channel  76  is flush with the base  11  of the receiver  10 . A tube  80  of a substantially square cross-section is also attached to receiver  10  opposite aperture  56  and is disposed parallel to the channel  76 .  
         [0020]     In accordance with a first embodiment, an end member  82  of rectangular cross-section is attached to the channel  76  and tube  80  opposite the receiver  10 . This end member can be welded to the tube. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 6 , the end member  82  is not welded to the tube  80 . Rather, two pieces, end member  82  and a secondary end member  82 B are held in place with securing means, such as a cap screw  82 D. In addition, extending from the second end member  82 B is a circular protrusion  82 C fits snuggly into tube  80 , holding the second end member piece  82 B in place. The fastening used for end member pieces  82 ,  82 B in accordance with this embodiment allows for easy unfastening and removal, which in turn, provides access to the follower  40 , which can be useful for servicing or replacing the follower  40  when needed.  
         [0021]     A follower  40  of a substantially “U” shaped cross section is disposed to envelop the tube  80  such that the side plates  44  are disposed within the rails  84  of channel  76 . A guide  42  is fastened between the side plates  44  of the follower  40 . Together, the side plates  44 , guide  42  and web  46  of the follower  40  form a bore  48  that guides the follower  40  allowing reciprocating movement along the tube  80 . A stop  38  is attached to the tube  80 , serving to limit the travel of the follower  40  away from the receiver  10 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tab  36  is attached to the web  46  of the follower  40 . As an alternative, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A, 6A  and  8 , the tab  36  can be replaced with a grasp  36 A. When the grasp  36 A is used, the follower  40  can be cocked, such that it is pulled back beyond the stop  38 , which then holds the follower  40 . This operation allows for staples  70  to be easily loaded into the magazine.  
         [0023]     A first hook  62  is attached to the guide  42  opposite the bore  48 . A second hook  64  is attached to the end member  82  and is disposed between the rails  84  of the channel  76 . Referring also to  FIG. 4 , a recess  86  is formed within the receiver  10  facing the end member  82 . A pin  90  spans the recess  86 . Referring back to  FIG. 3 , a tension spring  88  is attached to the first hook  62 , is threaded around the pin  90 , and is attached to the second hook  64 . The tension spring  88  biases the follower  40  towards the receiver  10 . Referring also now to  FIG. 6 , two flat covers  92  are attached to opposite sides of the end member  82  and to the anvil  51  forming a cavity  85  for the tension spring  88 . These covers  92  may be attached with screws or the like to allow them to be removed affording access to the tension spring  88 . Together, the channel  76 , tube  80 , end member  82 , and covers  92  comprise a magazine  96 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a feeder opening  60  formed in the wall of the receiver  10  opens to the magazine  96 . The feeder opening  60  defines an inverted “U” shape with respect to the base  11 . An anvil  51  is formed by the wall of the receiver  10  bordered by the feeder opening  60 . The magazine  96  and receiver  10  are appropriately dimensioned to accept staples of an elongated, inverted “U” shape with respect to the base  11  of the receiver  10 . Such staples are commercially available either individually or in cartridges formed by gluing, spot welding, of otherwise temporarily affixing the staples together. Referring to  FIG. 7  and back to  FIG. 3 , round guide bars  77  are attached to each rail  84  of channel  76 . These guide bars  77  cooperate with the tube  80  and covers  92  to guide staples along the magazine  96  and into the feeder opening  60 . It will be understood that the turf stapler of the invention can be modified to accept staples of different shapes and sizes.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , The turf stapler  1  is loaded by removing the housing  98 , using tab  36  to displace the follower  40  away from the receiver  10 , and placing a cartridge  70  of staples in the magazine  96 . The staples are sized such that they envelop tube  80 , extend over the covers  92 , and extend between the guide bars  77  and the rails  84  of the channel  76 . Once the cartridge  70  is placed in the magazine  96 , the follower  40  is released. Upon release of the follower  40 , the cartridge  70  is biased by the tension spring  88  towards the receiver  10 , until a first staple  72  facing the receiver  10  is arrested by the shelves  58 . As an alternative, a plurality of individual staples may be loaded in the magazine. The housing  98  is then replaced over the magazine  96 .  
         [0026]     In operation, the turf stapler  1  is lifted by the handle  28  and placed on the ground cover  2  to be stapled to the ground  3 . Handle  28  is forced down towards the ground  3  by the operator, forcing the plunger  16  down through the barrel  14 . The engagement of the pin  18  of the plunger  16  with the hole in boss  22  of the ram  12 , forces the ram  12  down towards the first staple  72 . As the ram  12  is forced downward it contacts the first staple  72  and displaces it downward through the ground cover  2 , stapling it to the ground  3 , and the first staple  72  is sheared away from the cartridge  70  by the shearing force exerted by the ram  12  and the anvil  51  on the cartridge  70 .  
         [0027]     When the first staple  72  is completely lodged into the ground  3 , the downward motion of the ram  12  is arrested by contact with the ground cover  2  and ground  3 . Over-travel of the ram  12  is limited by the complete compression of the spring  30  between the flange  24  and the barrel  14 . When the operator releases the downward pressure on the handle  28  and spring  30  causes the plunger  16  and ram  12  to move upwards until the boss of ram  12  contacts the stop  15  placed on receiver  10 . Once the ram  12  reverts to its upper position, the follower  40  forces the second staple  74  against the shelves  58 , placing the second staple  74  in position for stapling.  
         [0028]     The ram  12  may be removed from the turf stapler  1  for replacement, maintenance or to clear a jam. Pin  26  is removed freeing flange  24  from the end of plunger  16 . Next, spring  30  is lifted off the plunger  16 , and the plunger  16  and ram  12  are moved towards the base  11  of the receiver until the ram  12  slides clear of the receiver  10 . The ram  12  is then disengaged from the plunger  16 .  
         [0029]     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed (or apparent from the disclosure) herein, but only limited by the claims appended hereto.