Title of Invention

STAPLER WITH LABOR-SAVING AND LEG-FLATTING CAPABILITIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stapler has a supporting base, a magazine assembly, a trigger assembly, a leg-flatting device, a pushing arm and a guiding device. The magazine assembly is pivotally connected to the supporting base. The trigger assembly is connected pivotally to the supporting base and has a trigger lever connected pivotally to the supporting base. The leg-flatting device has a sliding base, a moving base and an anvil element. The sliding base is slidably mounted on the supporting base. The moving base is connected operationally to the supporting base at a position above the sliding base. The pushing arm is connected pivotally to the trigger lever of the trigger assembly and has a bottom end abutting the sliding base. The guiding device is mounted between the pushing arm and the magazine assembly to allow the pushing arm to move relative to the magazine assembly along a horizontal travel.

Full Text

STAPLER WITH LABOR-SAVING AND LEG-FLATTING CAPABILITIES BACKGROUND OF THE TNVENTTON 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stapler, and more particularly to a stapler that has labor-saving and leg-flatting capabilities and can stably hold a maximum number of pages of documents together. 2. Description of Related Art A conventional stapler may comprise a mechanism to provide a labor-saving capability with a lever system or a leg-flatting device to clinch legs of a staple to keep a person from being injured by bent staple legs. However, the conventional stapler does not have a combination between a labor-saving mechanism and a leg-flatting device, so the operations of these two devices are not harmonized and the number of pages of documents held by a conventional stapler is limited. For example, a conventional stapler can only hold documents with a number from 2 to 20 pages. When the conventional stapler is applied to staple documents with 40 pages, the operation of the conventional stapler with a conventional transmission mechanism will become unstable so the use of the conventional stapler is limited. To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a stapler to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE TNVF.NTION The main objective of the invention is to provide a stapler to harmonize the operations of a labor-saving mechanism and a leg-flattine device and maximize pages of documents that the stapler can hold. The stapler comprises a supporting base, a magazine assembly, a trigger assembly, a leg-flatting device, a pushing arm and a guiding device. The magazine assembly is pivotally cormected to the supporting base. The trigger assembly is connected pivotally to the supporting base and comprises a trigger lever connected pivotally to the supporting base. The leg-flatting device has a sliding base, a moving base and an anvil element. The sliding base is slidably mounted on the supporting base. The moving base is connected operationally to the supporting base at a position above the sliding base. The anvil element is mounted in the moving base. The pushing arm is cormected pivotally to the trigger lever of the trigger assembly and has a bottom end abutting the sliding base to push the sliding base to slide relative to the supporting base. The guiding device is mounted between the pushing arm and the magazine assembly to allow the pushing arm to move relative to the magazine assembly along a horizontal travel. Accordingly, the time difference effect provided by the labor-saving mechanism can be well transmitted to the leg-flatting device to harmonize operations of these two devices. In addition, the bottom end of the pushing arm can be kepi at a nearly straight moving travel before the magazine cap abutting with the document. Thus, shaking of the pushing arm can be prevented during the movement of the pushing arm and the operation of the stapler is stable even when the stapler is applied to hold few pages or a large number of pages. Consequently, the time differences of the operations of the leg-flatting device for stapling different pages of documents will be automatically adjusted to a consistent condition. Thus, the pages of documents that the stapler can hold together can be maximized and the versatility of the stapler is improved. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stapler in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view in partial section of the stapler in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an operational side view in partial section of the stapler in Fig. I showing that the stapler is applied to staple few, such as 2 pages of documents; Fig. 4 is an operational side view in partial section of the stapler in Fig. 1 showing that the leg-flatting device is actuated when the stapler is applied to staple few pages of documents; Fig. 5 is an operational side view in partial section of the stapler in Fig. 1 showing that the stapler is applied to staple a large number of pages, such as 40 pages of documents; Fig. 6 is a side view in partial section of a stapler with a second embodiment of guiding device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 7 is a side view in partial section of a stapler with a third embodiment of guiding device in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the guiding device in Fig. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFRD EMBODIMENT With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a stapler in accordance with the present invention comprises a supporting base (10), a magazine assembly (20), a trigger assembly (30), a leg-flatting device (40), a pushing arm (50) and a guiding device (60). The supporting base (10) comprises a bottom board (11), two side plates (12), a positioning base (13), a bottom base (14) and a bottom pad (16). The bottom board (U) is elongated and has two sides. The side plates (12) are respectively formed on and protrude from the sides of the bottom board (II). The positioning base (13) is mounted between the side plates (12) and has a U-shaped cross section, two sides and two inclined slots (132). The inclined slots (132) are defined respectively through the sides of the positioning base (13) and align with each other. The bottom base (14) is plastic and is mounted on the bottom of the bottom board (11), and the bottom pad (16) is mounted on the bottom of the bottom base (14). The magazine assembly (20) is pivotally connected to the supporting base (10) and comprises a magazine (22), a torsion spring (224), a staple holder (24), a magazine cap (25), a guiding rod (27) and a staple pusher (26). The magazine (22) has a front end and a rear end pivotally connected to positioning base (13) of the supporting base (10) with a magazine pivot. A staple channel (222) is defined in the magazine (22) for holding staplers inside. The torsion spring (224) is mounted around the magazine pivot to provide a recoil force to the magazine (22). The staple holder (24) is mounted in the staple channel (222) in the magazine (22) and has a front end. The magazine cap (25) is attached to the front ends of the magazine (22) and staple holder (24). The guiding shaft (27) is mounted in and along the staple channel (222). The staple pusher (26) is slidabiy mounted on the guiding shaft (27) and in the staple channel (222) of the magazine (22) and may be provided with a spring to push the staples in the staple channel (222) toward the magazine cap (25). The trigger assembly (30) is connected pivotally to the supporting base (10) and comprises a trigger lever (32), an auxiliary lever (34), a top cap (38) and a lever spring (36). The trigger lever (32) is connected pivotally to the supporting base (10), preferably the middle of the trigger lever is pivotally connected to the positioning base (13) of the supporting base (10). The trigger lever (32) has a staple driving tab (322) attached to a front end of the trigger lever (32) and corresponding to the magazine cap (25). The auxiliary lever (34) is pivotally connected to the rear end of the trigger lever (32) and is slidabiy cormected to supporting base (13) with a connecting pin (342) slidabiy mounted in the inclined slots (132) in the positioning base (13). The top cap (38) is securely attached to the trigger lever (32) and encloses the trigger lever (32) and the auxiliary lever (34) inside. The lever spring (36) may be a torsion spring and is mounted between the trigger lever (32) and the magazine (22) of the magazine assembly (20). The leg-flatting device (40) is operationally mounted on the supporting base (10) and comprises a sliding base (42), a moving base (44) and an anvil element (46). The sliding base (42) is slidabiy mounted on the supporting base (10) and has an abutting protrusion (422). The abutting protrusion (422) is formed on and protrudes from a rear end of the sliding base (42). The moving base (44) connected operationally to the supporting base (10) at a position above the sliding base (42). In a preferred embodiment, the moving base (44) is pivotally connected to the side plates (12) of the supporting base (10). The moving base (44) has an abutting flange (442) formed on a bottom at the front end of the moving base (44) and abuts with the sliding base (42). With the abutment of the abutting flange (442) with the sliding base (42), the moving base (44) is kept from pivoting relative to the supporting base (10). The anvil element (46) is mounted in the moving base (44) and may be securely attached to the bottom board (11) of the supporting base (10) and held in a front end of the moving base (44). The pushing arm (50) is connected pivotally to the trigger lever (32) of the trigger assembly (30) with a pivotal pin. Preferably, the lever spring (36) is mounted around the pivotal pin between the trigger lever (32) and the pushing arm (50) to make the pushing arm (50) and the lever spring (36) connected to the trigger lever (32) at a same point. The pushing arm (50) has a bottom end abutting the abutting protrusion (422) on the sliding base (42) to push the sliding base (42) to slide relative to the supporting base (10). Preferably, the pushing arm (50) has a pushing rod (52) mounted on the bottom end and abuts against the abutting protrusion (422). The guiding device (60) is mounted between the pushing arm (50) and the magazine assembly (20) to allow the pushing arm (50) to move relative to the magazine assembly (20) along a horizontal travel. In a first embodiment, the guiding device (60) comprises two guiding arms (62) and two guiding tabs (64). The guiding arms (62) are formed on and separated from a top of the magazine (22) and may be inverse L-shaped, such that a guiding channel (622) is defined between the top of the magazine (22) and each guiding ann (62). The guiding tabs (64) are formed on the pushing arm (50) and respectively extend slidably in the guiding channels (622). In a second embodiment, with reference to Fig. 6, the guiding device comprises two guiding boards (66) and at least one guiding rod (68). The guiding boards (66) are integrally formed on and protrude from the magazine (22) of the magazine assembly (20) and each guiding board (66) has a guiding charmel (662) transversely defined through the guiding board (66). The at least one guiding rod (68) is mounted on the pushing arm (50A) and extends slidably through the guiding channels (662) in the guiding boards (66). In a third embodiment, with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, the guiding device comprises a guiding collar (70) and at least one guiding rod (74). The guiding collar (70) is mounted around the magazine (22) of the magazine assembly (20) and has two guiding boards (72) formed on the guiding collar (70). Each guiding board (72) has a guiding channel defined transversely through the guiding board (72). The at least one guiding rod (74) is mounted on the pushing arm (50B) and extends slidably through the guiding channels in the guiding boards (72) on the guiding collar (70). With such an arrangement, with further reference to Figs. 2 to 4, when the trigger lever (32) is pressed for stapling documents, the trigger lever (32) with the magazine assembly (20) are pivoted and move downward relative to the supporting base (10). When the magazine cap (25) abuts with the documents and the trigger lever (32) is further pressed, one of the staples in the staple channel (222) will be discharged from the magazine (22) to staple the documents together. With the trigger lever (32) and the magazine (22) being pivotally cormected to the supporting base (10) respectively at the middle and the rear end, a labor-saving mechanism is implemented by the supporting base (10), magazine (22) and trigger lever (32) to provide a labor-saving capability to the stapler. When the magazine cap (25) abuts against the documents and the trigger lever (32) is ftirther pressed, the sliding base (42) will be pushed to move relative to the supporting base (10) by the pushing arm (50). Consequently, the sliding base (42) will leave from the position where abutting with the abutting flange (442) on the moving base (44), so that the moving base (44) is allowed to move downward with the trigger lever (32) and the magazine (22) relative to the supporting base (10). Thus, the legs of the triggered staple can contact and be clinched by the anvil element (46) to be flatted. During the movement of the pushing arm (50,50A,50B) before the magazine cap (25) abutting with the documents, the guiding tabs (64) or guiding rods (68,74) of the guiding device (60) will move horizontally relative to and along the guiding channels (622,662). Consequently, the bottom end of the pushing arm (50,50A,50B) can be kept at a nearly straight moving travel during the downward movement of the pushing arm (50,50A,50B), such that the sliding base (42) will be kept at the position where abutting with the abutting flange (442) of the moving base (44). Additionally, shaking of the pushing arm (50,50A,50B) can also be prevented during the movement of the pushing arm {50,50A,50B). Thus, the moving base (44) is kept from pivoting relative to the supporting base (10) before the magazine cap (25) abutting with the documents. Accordingly, the leg-flatting device (40) is well combined with the labor-saving mechanism by the pushing arm (50,50A,50B) and the guiding device (60), and the operations of these two devices is harmonized. The movement of the pushing arm (50,50A,50B) is stable during the operation of the stapler, and the moving base (40) is kept stationary before the magazine cap (25) abutting with the documents. Therefore, with reference further to Fig. 5, the moment of the pushing arm (50,5OA,50B) pushing the sliding base (42) will be automatically adjusted based on the number of pages of the documents to harmonize the time differences of actuating the leg-flatting device (40) for stapling different pages of documents, such as 40 or 2 pages. The pages of the documents that the stapler can hold together can be maximized, and the operation of the stapler is improved and versatile. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. I CLAIM: 1. A stapler comprising: a supporting base; a magazine assembly pivotally connected to the supporting base; a trigger assembly connected pivotally to the supporting base and comprising a trigger lever commuted pivotally to the supporting base; a leg-flatting device having a sliding base slidably mounted on the supporting base; a moving base connected operationally to the supporting base at a position above the sliding base; an anvil element mounted in the moving base; and a pushing arm connected pivotally to the trigger lever of the trigger assembly and having a bottom end abutting the sliding base to push the sliding base to slide relative to the supporting base; and a guiding device mounted between the pushing arm and the magazine assembly to allow the pushing arm to move relative to the magazine assembly along a horizontal travel. 2. The stapler as claimed in claim I, wherein the magazine assembly comprises a magazine pivotally connected to the supporting base with a magazine pivot and having a staple channel defined in the magazine for holding staplers inside; a torsion spring mounted around the magazine pivot; a staple holder mounted in the staple channel in the magazine and having a front end magazine cap attached to the front end of the staple holder; a guiding shaft mounted in and along the staple channel; and a staple pusher slidably mounted on the guiding shaft and in the staple channel of the magazine. 3. The stapler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting base comprises an elongated bottom board having two sides; two side plates respectively formed on and protruding from the sides of the bottom board; and a positioning base mounted between the side plates. 4. The stapler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the positioning base has a U-shaped cross section, two sides and two inclined slots defined respectively in the sides of the positioning base. 5. The stapler as claimed in claim 4, wherein the trigger assembly further comprises an auxiliary lever pivotally connected to the trigger lever and slidably connected to the supporting base; a top cap securely attached to the trigger lever and enclosing the trigger lever and the auxiliary lever inside; and a lever spring mounted between the trigger lever and the magazine of the magazine assembly; and the trigger lever is pivotally connected to the supporting base at a middle of the trigger lever and has a staple driving tab attached to a front end of the trigger lever and corresponding to the magazine cap. 6. The stapler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sliding base has an abutting protrusion formed on a rear end of the sliding base and abutting with the bottom end of the pushing arm; and the moving base has an abutting flange formed on a bottom at the front end of the moving base and abutting with the sliding base. 7. The stapler as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein the guiding device comprises two guiding arms each formed on and separated from a top of the magazine to defined a guiding channel between the top of the magazine and the guiding arm; and two guiding tabs formed on the pushing arm and respectively extending slidably in the guiding channels. 8. The stapler as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein the guiding device comprises two guiding boards formed on and protruding from the magazine assembly and each guiding board having a guiding channel defined through the guiding board; and at least one guiding rod mounted on the pushing arm and extending slidably through the guiding channels in the guiding boards. 9. The stapler as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein the guiding device comprises a guiding collar mounted around the magazine assembly and having two guiding boards formed on and protruding from the guiding collar, and each guiding board having a guiding channel defined through the guiding board; and at least one guiding rod mounted on the pushing arm and extending slidably through the guiding channels in the guiding boards on the guiding collar.

Documents:

2137-CHE-2008 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 28-10-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 28-10-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 28-10-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 28-10-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 FORM-13 28-10-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 FORM-3 28-10-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 30-05-2013.pdf

2137-CHE-2008 POWER OF ATTORNEY 30-05-2013.pdf

2137-che-2008 abstract.pdf

2137-che-2008 claims.pdf

2137-che-2008 correspondence-others.pdf

2137-che-2008 description (complete).pdf

2137-che-2008 drawings.pdf

2137-che-2008 form-1.pdf

2137-che-2008 form-18.pdf

2137-che-2008 form-3.pdf