US3924790A

US3924790A - Staple gun

Info

Publication number: US3924790A
Application number: US488136A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wolfgang W Moeller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-07-12
Filing date: 1974-07-12
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09

Abstract

An improved device for inserting fasteners into a generally flat workpiece where the fasteners are inserted at an angle of less than 90* into the workpiece, having a generally planar member attached to the body of a fastener ejector, e.g., a staple gun, which generally planar member extends above the housing of the stapler and is hingedly connected thereto, the angle at which the generally planar member is to the stapler housing being variable by a means to regulate the inclination of the planar member. There is provided means to maintain the generally planar member at an angle to the staple gun during a stapling operation.

Description

United States Patent [191 Moeller Dec.9, 1975 STAPLE GUN [76] Inventor: Wolfgang W. Moeller, 4 Glen Cove Drive, Glen Head, NY. 11545 22 Filed: July 12,1974

21 Appl. No.: 488,136

[52] US. Cl. 227/148 [51] Int. Cl. B25C 7/00 [58] Field of Search 227/147, 148

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,878 8/1961 Abrahamsen 227/147 X 3,007,171 ll/l96l Critchley 227/147 X Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burgess, Dinklage & Sprung ABSTRACT An improved device for inserting fasteners into a generally flat workpiece where the fasteners are inserted at an angle of less than 90 int-o the workpiece, having a generally planar member attached to the body of a fastener ejector, e.g., a staple gun, which generally planar member extends above the housing of the stapler and is hingedly connected thereto, the angle at which the generally planar member is to the stapler housing being variable by a means to regulate the inclination of the planar member. There is provided means to maintain the generally planar member at an angle to the staple gun during a stapling operation.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 STAPLE GUN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a fastening means such as a stapler. More particularly, this invention relates to a stapler or nailer which is adapted to be employed in those instances where the staples or nails are to enter a workpiece at an angle. More especially, this invention relates to a stapler employed in the repair of ceiling tiles especially those of the type employed in suspended ceilings.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Numerous fastening means are known. It is known, for instance, to use staple guns which propel staples of various configurations from a cartridge containing the same into a workpiece. Generally speaking, the stapler has a generally flat staple housing which is drawn into abutment with the work surface. Actuation of the trigger mechanism in the stapler propels the staples at an angle of 90 into the workpiece.

However, in many instances it is desired to introduce the staples at an angle. One such instance occurs in the repair of ceiling tiles of the type employed in suspended ceilings. Here a repaired tile is placed into position and staples are injected through the repair tile into the adjoining tile by a toe-type nailing. Oftentimes numerous tiles are placed into position during the repair of a suspended ceiling. In such instance it is desirable to have a fastening means which constantly guides the staples into position so that they enter the workpiece at an angle. While staple guns of the type mentioned above can be used for this purpose a steady hand is required to in- I sure that the staple enters the workpiece at the precise angle. Additionally when many staples are being injected into the workpiece it is often found that there is a great variation in the angle in which the staple enters the workpiece. This can cause additional problems should it be required to remove the newly set suspended ceiling tile. Problems can be encountered, additionally, if the angle is so large that the staple or other fastening means is caused to abut against the metal frame members on which the ceiling tile is connected.

It has, therefore, become desirable to provide a fastening gun wherein the fastening means injected into the workpiece by use of such a gun is injected always at an angle into the workpiece. More particularly, it has become desirable to provide a staple gun in which the angle at which the staple enters the workpiece is the same for every actuation of the staple gun. Still more especially it has become desirable to provide a staple gun wherein the angle at which the staple enters the workpiece can be varied to a fixed predetermined degree.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION Objects of the invention are provided employing a device for ejecting a fastening means, e.g., a staple, from a housing and propelling it into a flat workpiece. The improvement of the present invention resides'in the disposition of a generally planar member on a top surface of a fastening means ejector, e.g., a staple gun, in such a manner that the angle at which the generally planar member runs with respect to the surface of the fastening means ejector is regulatable. The generally planar member is pivotally or hingedly connected-to the end the fastening means ejector at the orifice where the fastening means is ejected. At the opposed end, it is height-regulatable by means suitably fastened to an edge of the fastening means ejector. By such an assembly, the generally planar member can be inclined at any angle of less than to the upper surface of the fastening means ejector. When such occurs, and the upper surface of the planar member is flush against a flat workpiece disposed thereabove, the fastening means will be injected into the workpiece at an angle of less than 90.

It will be realized that the improvement of the present invention is included in a standard fastening means ejector, e.g., staple gun or nailer, especially one which is of the hand-held variety including, a handle or palm member and a finger grip whereby the fastening means is ejected by compression of the fingenactuated means toward the stationary palm member, all of which will appear from the detailed disclosure below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be more readily understood and appreciated when reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation partially in section showing a few of the improved fastening apparatus of the invention in the form of a staple gun;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the use of the staple gun of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus comprises a magazine 2 for fastening means 4 in the form of staples. The staples can be the type of staples generally employed in staple guns where they are in a generally U-shape with each end of the U having a somewhat sharpened surface to permit entry of the staple. The staples 4 in the magazine 2 therefor are urged toward the orifice 6 by a spring means 8 especially one in the form of a coiled spring. Disposed in a generally perpendicular arrangement to the orifice 6 and to the magazine 2 is a staple driver 10 housed in a staple driver housing in the form of a driver guide track 12. Staple driver 10 is in the form of a moveable rod terminating in a lip 14 which engages the flat portion 16 of a staple when it is in alignment with the guide track 12. v i

In FIG. 1 there is shown a hand-held stapler comprising a handle 18 which is stationary and intregal with the housing. A hand grip 20 yieldably connected to the handle 18 is employed. A spring 22 disposed about a pin 24 is utilized to provide a springing action to return hand grip 20 to its original position after use. The device can also be provided with an index finger grip 26. The hand grip 20 terminates in a generally arcuate rack 28 that engages a gear 30 which is station arily disposed on a toothed wheel 32 of larger diameter. Gear 32 engages a facing gear 34 of substantially smaller diameter which in turn is journaled for rotation with spur gear 36 about a common axis 37 in the same manner in which wheel 30 and wheel 32 are journaled about axis 33.

Gear 36 engages a rack 38 which is integral with staple driver 10.

Operation of the staple gun is relatively simple. By gripping butt member 18 with the palm of the hand and hand grip 20with the fingers and by pulling the hand member towards the butt, the rack 28 is caused to rotate thereby moving gear 30. Gear 30 moves gear 32 which in turn, by engagement with gear 34, causes rotation of gear 34. Gear 34 which is stationary with gear 36 causes gear 36 to move which in turn effects movement of the toothed rack 38 so that it moves rapidly and with great force towards the orifice 6. The staple 4 passes out of orifice 6 by virtue of engagement of the fiat portion 16. This propels the staple out of the orifice and into the workpiece. When the hand grip is released the gears move in the opposite direction permitting the toothed rod 38 to return to the position shown in FIG. 1. The arrows on the drawing show the movement of the various parts upon actuation of the staple gun.

According tothe invention there is provided a generally flat planar member 50 which overlies and is hingedly connected to the staple driver housing by hinge 104 and, indeed, generally overlies a major portion of the stapling gun. Planar member 50 can have attached thereto a rubber planar surface 52 for it is intended that this surface engage the flat workpiece. The surface 52 should therefore be compatible with the surface of the flat workpiece to be engaged. The planar member 50 has a vertical lip member 54 which overlies and is contiguous to a vertical slide of the stapler such that when the vertical lift 54 abuts the top surface 90 of the stapler, it runs generally parallel to the driver guide track 12.

Referring to FIG. 2 the generally vertical lip member 54 has a U-shaped cutout 56 through which a screw 58 (as seen in FIG. 1) passes. A portion of the shaft of the screw 60 (FIG. 1) passes through the U-shaped cutout portion 56. The screw has a head 62 which overlies the cutout portion so that upon turning the screw the head 62 will bear against the surface of the member 54 and fix the generally planar member 50 rigidly to the body of the staple gun. Obviously, the inclination that the planar member 50 has to the body of the staple gun can be varied by loosening the head 62 and raising or lowering the member 54 so that the desired angle at which the member 50 takes is obtained. When that angle is obtained the head 62 of the screw 58 is turned clockwise until it bears against the face of portion 54.

According to one embodiment of the invention a terminal edge of the planar member 50 overlies the orifice 6 at 70. The terminal portion of the planar member 50 which overlies the orifice is designated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 72. This helps to further define the path that the staple will travel and to insure that it enters the workpiece at the precise angle desired. To further assist in the insurance that the staple enters the workpiece at the desired angle the apparatus can be provided with a generally triangular nose member 74 having a generally flat member upper surface 76 which is in general alignment with the lower marginal edge of the orifice 6. The surface 76 is in general facing relationship with the marginal overlying portion 72 so as to define a restricted path through which the staple will be propelled.

Operation of the device is relatively simple. Referring to FIG. 2 the precise angle of inclination at which the planar member 50 is to have with respect to the staple driver 10, the staple 4 and the orifice 6 is set as described. In FIG. 2 a generally overlying bracket means in the form of facing U-shaped tracks 80 in which the vertical lip member 54 sits is employed to insure that the vertical lip 54 is not inadvertently moved during a stapling operation. Once the head 62 of the screw 58 4 abuts the vertical lip 54, the angle a as shown in FIG. 1 is determined. This angle a is less than Referring to FIG. 3 when upper surface 52 of planar member 50 abuts the generally flat workpiece 82 the angle at which the staple will enter the workpiece is also less than 90. Actuation of the hand member 20 will drive the staple through the orifice and through the constricted path defined by members 72 and 74 whereupon the staple will enter the workpiece as shown at an angle of less than 90 with respect to the surface thereof. In FIG. 3 there is shown the staple joining by a toe-type nailing operation a removable ceiling tile 84 t0 a stationary ceiling tile 86.

Obviously, the present invention is capable of a number of modifications. Numerous different means to regulate angle a by rasing or lowering the planar member 5 and securing it to the stapler can be provided. The precise means which holds the planar member 50 stationarily fixed to the body of the stapler during a stapling operation is not particularly critical. It is desired, however, that a means be provided whereby the angle oz can be changed so that the stapler can be used in a number of different operations where the required angle may vary. Functionally, it is important that there be this height regulatable member disposed at a level above the stapler whereby to insure that the angle at which the staple enters the workpiece is less than 90. In such an instance, the tool is useful in inserting fastening means into a surface running parallel to a ceiling. Additionally, the surface of the magazine 2 can be placed in abutment to a ceiling in which event the fastening means, e.g., staple, will enter the ceiling perpendicularly. In such instance the facing surfaces 76 and 72 further assist in guiding the staple into the workpiece.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A hand held and actuated apparatus for propelling a fastening means into a generally flat workpiece which comprises a stationary palm member and a springbiased finger grip, said finger grip connected to an arcuate rack, said arcuate rack connected through a geared transmission to a longitudinally running staple driver having a lip, said staple driver being received in a guide track in a staple driver housing, said apparatus having a magazine having an exit in alignment with said lip of said staple driver, means within said magazine for feeding fastening means into said guide track in alignment with said lip, said staple driver housing having pivotally connected thereto proximite the end of said guide track a generally planar member which extends generally over said staple driver housing and is height regulatably fastened thereto, said planar member inclined at an angle of less than 90 to said staple driver housing, such that when the upper surface of said planar member is flush against a generally flat workpiece, said staple driver housing and said staple driver are inclined to said workpiece at an angle of less than 90 whereby actuation of said finger grip when said planar member abuts a workpiece causes said staple driver to move forward into engagement with said fastening means in said guide track and to urge said fastening means into said workpiece at an angle of less than 90.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 said planar member extending beyond the end of said guide track in said staple driver housing.

6 form of a depending lip member extending over a rearward edge of said staple driver housing, said lip member having a U-shaped cut-out, a screw member engaged within said staple driver housing passing through said U-shaped cut-out, said screw having a head overlying said lip member.

Claims

1. A hand held and actuated apparatus for propelling a fastening means into a generally flat workpiece which comprises a stationary palm member and a spring-biased finger grip, said finger grip connected to an arcuate rack, said arcuate rack connected through a geared transmission to a longitudinally running staple driver having a lip, said staple driver being received in a guide track in a staple driver housing, said apparatus having a magazine having an exit in alignment with said lip of said staple driver, means within said magazine for feeding fastening means into said guide track in alignment with said lip, said staple driver housing having pivotally connected thereto proximite the end of said guide track a generally planar member which extends generally over said staple driver housing and is height regulatably fastened thereto, said planar member inclined at an angle of less than 90* to said staple driver housing, such that when the upper surface of said planar member is flush against a generally flat workpiece, said staple driver housing and said staple driver are inclined to said workpiece at an angle of less than 90* whereby actuation of said finger grip when said planar member abuts a workpiece causes said staple driver to move forward into engagement with said fastening means in said guide track and to urge said fastening means into said workpiece at an angle of less than 90*.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a nose member having a generally flat upper surface is affixed to the undersurface of said magazine, said flat upper surface being in alignment with the end of said guide track.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said planar member has an attaching means thereon in the form of a depending lip member extending over a rearward edge of said staple driver housing, said lip member having a U-shaped cut-out, a screw member engaged within said staple driver housing passing through said U-shaped cut-out, said screw having a head overlying said lip member.