IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR MECHANISM FOR DRIVING AND CLINCHING LETTERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR MECHANISM FOR DRIVING AND CLINCHING
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR MECHANISM FOR DRIVING AND CLINCHING
METALLIC STAPLES IN PAPER OR SIMILAR MATERIALS. A communication from
abroad by Isaac W. Heysinger, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of Americn.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR MECHANISM
FOR DRIVING AND CLINCHING METALLIC STAPLES IN PAPER OR SIMILAR MATERIALS."
[A communication from abroad by Isaac W. Heysinger, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
devices or mechanism for driving and clinching staples and the like
I am aware that hand tools for inserting and clinching metallic staples in paper
and other fabrics have long been in use, and my improvements are designed more
specifically to provide a construction and peculiar oporation, whereby greater
cheapness of manufacture, lightness of parts and increased efficiency in working
are secured
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a base of suitable material
arranged to stand upon a desk or table and to which is hinged a vibrating arm
which, in connection with the base aforesaid, operates to insert and clinch a
metallic staple through a fabric interposed as will be horeinafter described.
The forward or free and of the base part is provided with a projecting support
which is recessed to give room for a spring. Against the upper part of this support
is screwed or otherwise attached, a flat driving blade which operates in a staple
case to drive the staple. This staple case I preferably make of stamped metal
whereby I greatly simplify the manufacture, and uniformly produco an effective
T

page_text: and closely fitting case at a trifling cost, the same being the staple case previously
secured to me by Letters Patent No 1535 dated 14th April A.D. 1880. This case
and its contained blade or plunger stand upright so as to face against the under
surface of the free extremity of the vibrating arm.
This staple case is partly open on the rear side, and its incurved sides travel 5
along the sides of the projecting support, while the broader plunger fills latoral
grooves formed for the guidance of the staples during the driving thereof, in the
same vertical plane. From this open side also the looped portion of suspension
ring staples, when such are used, project.
The opposite or front side of the staple case is solid except that it is pierced by 1
a longitudinal slot for a portion of its length, so arranged that a screw which
attaches the plunger blade to its projecting support may be seated in this slot in
such manner that the said staple-case may freely travel upwards and downwards
upon the said plunger to the extent of the length of the said slot, the ends of
which impinging upon the head of the screw contained therein may then arrest 1
the motion of the same and prevent its escape upward therefrom
I usually provide a circular groove or flange around the bottom of the plunger
and also notch the base so as to seat the bottom of the plunger blade and prevent
it from being displaced or tilted upon the screw as a centre.
I provide a coiled retracting spring to operate against the under surface of the 2
staple-case and lift it to the extent of the limit interposed by the slot and screw
And I
and so keep the staple caso constantly open for the reception of a staple.
make this spring so stiff that the insertion of a staple shall not depress the case
while being placed within the same.
To put this mechanism together I take the blade or plunger and slip over it the
staple-case; then over the projecting lower end of the plunger I slip the coiled
spring. I now place the bottom of the plunger in its notch, push down the staple-
cuse against the pressure of the spring till its screw hole comes opposite a screw
hole in the projecting support to which it is to be attached and firmly connect it
thereto by means of a screw whereby all the parts are kept securely in place
by the simplest means, while they may be readily taken apart should it be
necessary
The vibrating arm is pivoted to an elevated support at its rear end so as to
vibrate in a vertical plane. At its front end it carries a hand-knob to receive a
blow of the fist or open hand in order to drive the staples Upon the under
surface of the vibrating arm opposite the knob is a recessed clinching head forming
a part of the same. This is crossed to a greater or less extent by a groove provided
.with curved or sloping ends so arranged that the legs of the staple, while being
driven, shall strike against the curved ends of the said groove and be deflected
towards each other, and upwards against the under surface of the paper, by
having each part of the projecting staple legs during the operation of clinching
successively acted upon by the said curved ends of the grooved clincher.
This clinching groove is adapted to strike accurately against the open mouth of
the before described staple case and is sufficiently wide to ensure the entrance of
the projecting staple legs therein, its depth varying according to circumstances,
being neither so deep as to allow the successive curves of the staple legs during
the operation of driving, to be formed beneath and out of contact with the paper
or so shallow as to interpose much obstacle to the deflection of the same or turn
them suddenly against and through the article being operated upon. In practice a
segment of a circle cut by a milling wheel three-fourths of an inch in diameter
or there abouts will be sufficient for a staple having a breadth across the top of
three eighths of an inch, and so on The front and rear sides of the groove should
not be sharp enough to cut the edges of the paper being stapled.
Upon the base before described, and between the plunger-bearing support and
the pivot to which the swinging or vibrating arm is attached, I provide a receptacle
for loose staples, from which they may be picked, one at time as required I
usually make this circular, so that a lid or cover notched at one side may be

page_text: attached by simply turning it around under a stud which overhangs the same. I
also provide it with vertical grooves so that a piece of pasteboard or tin may form
a partition to separate the various sizes of staples or suspension rings when such
are used.
I also sometimes form a gauge by bending a piece of metal into a U shape and
placing it upon the flat vertical support between the staple receptacle and the
staple plunger and case, so that it may project sufficiently to form a guide for the
insertion of show card suspension rings and the like at a suitable distance from the
edge of the card or pamphlet
The operation of the tool or device is as follows. The vibrating arm is properly
grasped say by the right hand. A staple of the proper length is inserted, points
upward, in the staple case; the left hand which has carried the pile of papers to
be stapled all properly arranged, now presents the same beneath the clinching jaw;
the lever is brought down upon the papers and a smart blow struck upon the
knob by the hand or fist which drives the points of the staples through the papers
and into the clinching recess. The projecting legs are therein successively bent
by the curved or sloping sides of the recess and the projecting points are carried
over toward each other and along and against the surface of the paper which is
above, without reference to the form of the bottom of the groove excepting at the
points of deflection thus making the bent portions of the staple hug the paper and
ensuring what is called a "good clinch." When a suspension-ring is used the
manipulation is the same excepting that the ring is held by its loop while being
inserted in the staple-case by the fingers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES OR MECHANISM
FOR DRIVING AND CLINCHING METALLIC STAPLES IN PAPER OR SIMILAR MATERIALS."
A communication from abroad by Isaac W. Heysinger, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
devices or mechanism for driving and clinching staples and the like.
I am aware that hand-tools for inserting and clinching metallic staples
in paper and other fabrics have long been in use. My improvements aro
designed more especially to provide a tool for this purpose, whereby greater
cheapness of manufacture, lightness of parts, and increased efficiency in working
are secured.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool constructed according to this invention
for inserting and clinching metallic staples.
Higuain

page_text: In carrying this invention into practice I provide a base A of metal or other
suitable material (arranged to stand upon a desk or table) to which is hinged a
vibrating arm B, which, in connection with the base aforesaid, operates to insert
and clinch a metallic staple through a fabric interposed as will be hereinafter
described.
The forward or free end of the base part is provided with a projecting support C
which is recessed to give room for a spring D. Against the upper part of this
support is screwed, or otherwise attached, a flat driving blade E which operates in
the staple-case F to drive the staple. This staple-case I preferably make of
stamped metal whereby I greatly simplify the manufacture and uniformly produce
an effective and closely fitting case at a trifling cost, the same being the staple-
case described in the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 1535 dated
14th April A.D. 1880. This case, and its contained blade or plunger, stand
perpendicularly so as to face the under surface of the free extremity of the vibrating
arm.
This staple case is partly open on the rear side, and its curved sides travel
against the face of the projecting support C, while the broader plunger fills the
lateral grooves a formed for the guidance of the staples, during the driving thereof,
in the same vertical plane. From this open side also the looped portion of suspension
ring staples, when such are used, project.
The front side of the staple-case is solid except that it is pierced by a longi-
tudinal slot 6 for a portion of its length, and is so arranged that a screw G which
attaches the plunger-blade to its projecting support may be located in this slot in
such a manner that the said staple-case may freely travel up and down upon the
said plunger to the extent of the length of the said slot, the ends of which
impinging upon the head of the screw contained therein, may then arrest the
motion of the same and prevent its escape upward therefrom.
I usually provide a circular groove or flange around the bottom of the plunger
and also notch the base so as to seat the bottom of the plunger blade, and prevent
it from being displaced or tilted upon the screw as a centre.
I also provide a coiled retracting spring D to operate against the under surface
of the staple-caso and lift it to the extent allowed by the slot and screw, and so
keep the staple-case constantly open for the reception of a staple. I make this
spring so stiff that the insertion of a staple shall not depress the case while being
placed within the same.
To put this mechanism together, I take the blade or plunger E and slip over it
the staple-case F; then over the projecting lower end of the plunger I slip the
coiled spring D. I now place the bottom of the plunger into its notch, push down
the staple-case against the pressure of the spring till its screw hole & comes
opposite the screw-hole e in the support C, to which it is to be attached, and firmly
connect it thereto by means of the screw G, whereby all the parts are kept securely
in place by the simplest means, while they may be readily taken apart should it be
necessary.
The vibrating arm B is pivoted to an elevated support A' at its rear end so as
to vibrate in a vertical plane. At its front end it carries a hand-knob B¹ to receive
a blow in order to drive the staples. Upon the under surface of the vibrating
arm B, and opposite the knob, is a recessed clinching head H forming a fixed part
of the same. This is crossed to a greater or less extent by a groove ƒ provided
with curved or inclined ends so arranged that the legs of the staple, while being
driven, shall strike against the inclined ends of the said groove and be bent toward
each other, and against the surface of the paper, by having each part of the
projecting staple-legs, during the operation of clinching, successively acted upon by
the said inclined ends of the clincher.
This clinching groove fis adapted to strike accurately against the open mouth of
the before described staple-case and is sufficiently wide to ensure the entrance of
the projecting staple legs therein, its depth varying according to circumstances
being neither so deep us to allow the successive curves of the staple legs during th
0

page_text: operation of driving, to be formed beneath and out of contact, with the paper, or so
'shallow as to interpose inuch obstacle to the bending of the same, or turn
them suddenly against and through the article being operated upon.
In
practice a segment of a circle cut by a milling wheel, three-fourths of an
inch in diameter, or thereabouts, will be sufficient for a staple having a breadth
across the top of three eighths of an inch, and so on. The front and rear
sides of the groove should not be sharp enough to cut the edges of the paper being
stapled.
Upon the base A before described, and between the plunger-bearing support C
and the pivot to which the vibrating arm is attached, I provide a receptacle J for
loose staples, from which they may be taken, one at a time, as required. I usually
make this circular, so that a lid or cover K notched at one side may be attached
by simply turning it around under a stud L which overhangs the same.
I also
provide it with vertical grooves g, so that a piece of pasteboard or tin may form a
partition to separate the various sizes of staples or suspension-rings when such are
üsed.
I also sometimes form a gauge M by bending a piece of metal into a U shape
and placing it upon the flat vertical support C between the staple-receptacle and
the staple-plunger and case, so that it may project sufficiently to form a guide for
the insertion of show-card suspension-rings, and the like, at a suitable distance from
the edge of the card or pamphlet.
The operation of the tool or device is as follows;—
The vibrating arm is properly grasped, say by the right hand. A staple of the
proper length is inserted (points upward), into the staple case; the left hand, which
carried the pile of papers to be stapled all properly arranged, now presents the same
beneath the clinching jaw; the lever is brought down upon the papers, and a smart
blow struck upon the knob by the hand or fist which drives the points of the
staple through the papers and into the clinching recess. The projecting legs are
therein successively bent by the curved or sloping sides of the recess and the
projecting points are bent over toward each other and against the surface of the
paper which is above, without reference to the form of the bottom of the groove
excepting at the points of deflection, thus making the bent portions of the staple
hold the paper and ensuring what is called a "good clinch." When a suspension
ring is used the manipulation is the same, excepting that the ring is held by its
loop while being inserted into the staple-case by the fingers.
Among the more prominent advantages of this tool are the following.
All the operations are performed with one hand, the other being free to hold the
paper.
A staple, if loosely fitting, will not drop out of the groove, as in those machines
which drive downwards.
As the legs clinch upon the top surface, the success of each clinch is seen without
turning the paper over.
The magazine for loose staples offers the various sizes at hand without a resort
to drawers or packages.
The tool is reduced to its lightest and simplest form.
It drives staples of various sizes as well as suspension-rings.
It can be sold at one half the price of any desk staple-driver previously placed
upon the market.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a tool or device for inserting and clinching metallic staples, the
combination of the support C, the plunger E, the staple-case F, and the retracting
spring D, the whole arranged to be firmly held together in position by the single
screw or fastening G, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The combination, with the base A, and the vibrating arm B, of the
staple case F formed of sheet metal, the whole arranged in the form of a desk-tool

page_text: for driving and clinching metallic staples, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Third. The combination, with the base or stand A, and the vibrating-arm B
provided with a hand-knob B¹ for driving the same, of the flat plunger-blade E,
the stamped metal staple-case F, and the spring D, surrounding the said plunger-
blade and bearing against the under surface of the said staplo-case, substantially as
described.
Fourth. In a tool or device for inserting and clinching metallic staples, the
staple-case F, provided with the groove a, and slot b, the plunger blade E provided
with the screw-hole d, and the support C provided with the screw-hole e, the whole
being so arranged that the screw which attaches the said plunger-blade to the said
support shall have its projecting head seated in the said slot b in the said staple-
case, so as to prevent the escape of the same from the said plunger-blado,
substantially as described.
Fifth. In a tool or device for inserting and clinching metallic staples, a
receptacle for staples, which is provided with a removable cover or lid and
arranged to be divided into compartments, or otherwise, substantially as
described.
:
Sixth. In a tool or device for inserting and clinching metallic staples, the staple
receptacle or box J, provided with a lid or cover K arranged to lock by rotation of
the same upon the box, substantially as described.
"
Seventh. The combination, with the base A, vibrating arm B, knob B',
plunger E, and staple case F, of the receptacle J for loose staples, so arranged that
when it is open the staples may be removed singly for use, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. A tool or device for inserting and clinching metallic staples, consisting
of a base A, vibrating arm B, provided with a knob B', staple case F; having a
groove a and longitudinal slot 6, screw G, and spring D, the whole arranged to
operate, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TIZE DART
T