Patent ID: 7540400

Claim:
A manual desktop stapler, comprising: a body having a staple chamber; a strike plate movably mounted to the body and adapted to drive a staple from the staple chamber and into a target object; a handle pivotally mounted to the body and operatively coupled to the strike plate wherein application of an input force results in movement of the strike plate relative to the body to drive a staple; and a lockout mounted to the body and operating in a manner to inhibit movement of the strike plate and subsequent driving a staple unless the body is adjacent to the target object; wherein the lockout comprises a tab that is adapted to move to a first position when the body is not adjacent the target object to inhibit movement of the strike plate and adapted to move to a second position when the body is adjacent the target object to allow movement of the strike plate; and wherein the lockout comprises a plunger having an end portion at one end thereof that can extend beyond the boundary of the body and a tab disposed at an opposite end, the end portion adapted to move linearly relative to the body, the tab adapted to rotate to the second position when the body is adjacent the target object.