The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
STAPLER
Piled of the Invention
The invention relates to a stapler for stapling a stack of paper by a staple. More particularly, it relates to a stapler in which a lock member is provided as to be inserted into lateral holes of the magazine that loads a strip of staples and a long aperture of a clincher arm that clinches the staple; and a fitting portion of the lock member is fitted into a part of the long aperture of the clincher arm so that the magazine and the clincher arm can be locked, thereby enabling the magazine and the clincher arm to keep their closed (locked) states and enabling a strip of staples to be suitably loaded in the magazine while the stapler stays in their locked state.
State of the Art in the Field
i A staler has been provided in recent years in which, a lock
t
mechanism that locks a cover and a base of the stapler while the cover and the base are closed to each other is employed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-311648 has disclosed a stapler having a stopper-lock mechanism. In this stapler, while an upper lever and a lower lever of the stapler are closed to each other, the upper lever can be locked to the lower lever at its lock position by moving a shaft of an operation member provided at the upper lever thereto. This prevents the upper lever and the lower lever from being rotated to each other, thereby enabling them to be locked to each other.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-112781 has also
disclosed a stapler having a mechanism that keeps its disused condition. In this stapler, projections provided on a base, which are inserted into inclined apertures in a cover, are moved from their forward ends of the inclined apertures to their rear ends thereof so that the cover can be closed to form and keep its flat condition.
Problem of the invention
In the stapler disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-311648, however, the upper lever and the lower lever are locked to each other, so that such the lock condition may have to be just released especially when a strip of staples is newly loaded. Further, there may be a fear that the shaft of the operation member in the stopper-lock mechanism can be damaged when the upper lever is opened if a user overlooks the lock condition.
In the stapler disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-112781, the base and the cover are locked to each other, so that such the lock condition may have to be just released especially when a strip of staples is newly loaded.
Solution of the Problem
The invention solves the above problems and the principal object of this invention is to provide a stapler that keeps its locked state where the stapler is closed and allows a strip of staples to be freely loaded in a magazine while the stapler stays in its locked state.
Accordingly, the invention provides a stapler for stapling a stack of paper by folding a stapler, characterized in that the stapler includes a magazine for storing a strip of staples, the magazine containing a slit at an end thereof and a pivot portion at the other end thereof, the magazine further containing a lateral hole therein, a clincher arm, an end of which is pivoted with the pivot portion of
the magazine, for clinching the staple to staple the stack of paper, the clincher arm containing an clincher, at the other end thereof, that clinches the staple pushed out of the slit of the magazine, the clincher arm further containing a long aperture that faces the lateral hole when the magazine is driven, and a lock member for locking the magazine and the clincher arm, the lock member being inserted into the lateral hole of the magazine and the long aperture of the clincher arm, the lock member further containing a fitting portion,
wherein the long aperture of the clincher arm includes a part for allowing the fitting portion of the lock member to be fitted.
There is also provided a stapler in which the lock member includes a rod portion that is inserted into the lateral hole of the magazine and the long aperture of the clincher arm, a lock portion that locks the rod portion, the lock portion being provided at an end of the rod portion, and a flange portion containing the fitting portion, the flange portion being attached to the other end of the rod portion, wherein the part of the long aperture of the clincher arm allows the fitting portion of the flange portion to be fitted.
There is further provided a stapler in which the rod portion includes a body containing a cut surface, and a projection that prevents the rod portion from being moved along an axial direction of the rod portion, wherein the body is flexible for releasing force received by the projection.
There is still-further provided a stapler substantially as described in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In an embodiment of the staplers according to the invention, the strip of the staples is loaded in the magazine. The clincher arm clinches the staple driven out of the slit by any force at its clincher, i.e., an anvil. The lock member inserted into the lateral hole of
the magazine and the long aperture of the clincher arm locks the magazine and the clincher arm by fitting a fitting portion of the lock member into a part of the long aperture of the clincher arm. This enables the magazine and the clincher arm to keep their locked states and allows a strip of staples to be freely loaded in the magazine while the magazine and the clincher arm stay in their locked states.
In this embodiment of the stapler according to the invention, the lock member inserted into the lateral hole of the magazine and the long aperture of the clincher arm is provided, so that the fitting portion of the lock member can be fitted into the part of the long aperture of the clincher arm, thereby enabling the magazine and the clincher arm to be locked.
Such the configuration allows the magazine and the clincher arm to keep their closed states, which makes a size of the stapler body compact to provide any convenience to a user in carrying or storing the stapler. Further, although the magazine and the clincher arm are locked, another component of the stapler can be moved so that a strip of the staples can be freely loaded in the magazine while the magazine and the clincher arm are closed.
The concluding portion of this specification particularly points out and directly claims the subject matter of the present invention. However those skill in the art will best understand both the organization and method of operation of the invention, together with further advantages and objects thereof, by reading the remaining portions of the specification in view of the accompanying drawing (s) wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a stapler according1 to the invention for showing a configuration thereof;
FIG.2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the stapler according to the invention for showing a first important portion thereof;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the stapler according to the invention for showing a second important portion thereof;
FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of a lock member for showing configurations of a lock pin and a lock cap included therein;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations each for showing a configuration of the lock pin;
FIG. 6 A is a cross-sectional view of the lock pin taken on line X-X of FIG. 5B and FIG. 6B is an end view of the lock pin shown from an arrow Y in FIG. 5B;
FIG. 7 A is a top plan view of the lock cap, FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the lock cap taken on line X1-X1 of FIG. 7A, FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the lock cap taken on line Y2-Y2 of FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7D is a bottom plan view of the lock cap shown from an arrow Z in FIG. 7C;
FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram of the lock member for showing an assembled state of the lock pin and the lock cap;
FIGS. 9A through 9C are illustrations each for showing an operation example (part 1) of a lock mechanism;
FIGS. 10A through IOC are illustrations each for showing an operation example (part 2) of a lock mechanism;
FIG. 11 is an illustration for illustrating an operation example (part 1) of the embodiment of the stapler according to the invention;
FIG. 12 is an illustration for illustrating an operation example (part 2) of the embodiment of the stapler according to the invention; and
FIG. 13 is an illustration for illustrating an operation example
(part 3) of. the embodiment of the stapler according to the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The following will describe embodiments of a stapler according to the invention with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of the stapler 100 according to the invention.
The stapler of handy type shown in FIG. 1 staples a stack of paper by clinching a staple with any force. The stapler 100 contains a clincher arm 101, which includes a base frame lOla having a set shape, a clincher 101j, i.e., an anvil containing a depression lOlh for clinching the staple, and a remover lOli. The base frame lOla is made by folding both ends of a metallic plate upward to form the set shape so that the base frame lOla may constitute a base of the stapler 100. The remover lOli is provided at an end of the base frame lOla. The remover lOli is used, for example, when a staple 130 by which a stack of paper is stapled is removed by inserting the remover lOli between a crown of the staple 130 and a top of the stack of paper and pulling up the staple 130.
The clincher lOlj is provided at the other end of the base frame lOla. The clincher 101 j maybe incorporated with the base frame lOla. The depression lOlh in the clincher lOlj is used for clinching the staple, which is pushed out, with any force in order to staple a stack of paper, so that legs of the staple 130 can be folded so as to be rounded or flatted. If the legs of the staple 130 are folded so as to be flatted, stacks of paper each stapled by the staple are not bulky even when they are stacked. It is to be noted that in this embodiment, the depression lOlh in the clincher lOlj is preferably used for clinching the staple 130 so that its legs can be folded so as to be rounded.
A clincher arm cover 102 covers a bottom of the base frame lOla. The clincher arm cover 102 is formed by a frame made of plastic materials, to which any design is applied.
A magazine 104 is rotatably attached to the base frame lOla of the clincher arm 101. The magazine 104 contains a main frame 104a having a set shape. The magazine 104 has, at an end of the main frame 104a thereof, a slit 120 for allowing the staple to be pushed out. The magazine 104 also has holes 104b, 104c for pivoting the magazine 104 at the other end of the main frame 104a. A shaft 121 used as a fulcrum when the magazine 104 is driven is inserted into the holes 104b, 104c of the main frame 104a. The magazine 104 loads a strip of the staples 130. The magazine 104 may load two strips of the staples 130, each strip including 50 staples.
A pusher 106 is engaged inside the magazine 104 so that the pusher 106 can be slid. The pusher 106 pushes the strip(s) of staples loaded in the magazine 104, thereby enabling the strip(s) of the staples to be moved toward the slit 120 thereof. In this embodiment, the magazine 104 equips the pusher 106 while a spring guide 106a passes through the pusher 106 and a spring 106b.
A coil spring 110 stands between a rear side of the magazine 104, i.e., the other end of the main frame 104a, and a rear side of the .clincher arm 101, i.e., the end of the base frame 10 la. The coil spring 110 biases the magazine 104 to urge the magazine 104 away from the clincher arm 101 so that there remains a clearance between the clincher 101 j and the end of the magazine 104, thereby enabling a stack of paper to stand between the clincher 101 j and the end of the magazine 104.
A driver arm 108 is rotatably attached to the shaft 121. The driver arm 108 contains a main frame 108a, The main frame 108a is made by folding both sides of a metallic board downward to form a set
shape with a top surface and both side surfaces. The driver arm 108 has a driver 109 at a (forward) end thereof and holes 108b, 108c into which the shaft 121 is inserted at the other end thereof. The driver 109 is engaged with a top part of a first staple 130 of the strip, which is pushed by the pusher 10.6. The driver 109 drives the top part of the first staple 130 of the strip when any force is attached to the driver arm 108.
A staple cover 112 covers the magazine 104 inside the main frame 108a of the driver arm 108. The staple cover 112 pushes the strip(s) of staples, which are loaded in the magazine 104, down. The staple cover 112 is also rotatably attached to the shaft 121. In this embodiment, rear ends 112b, 112c of the staple cover 112 respectively have U-shaped configurations that catch the staple cover 112 on the shaft 121, so that the staple cover 112 can be rotatably attached to the shaft 121.
A coil spring 114, which has a stronger elasticity than that of the coil spring 110, stands between the main frame 108a of the driver arm 108 and the staple cover 112 on the magazine 104. The coil spring 114 biases the driver arm 108 to urge it so that the driver 109 can withdraw from the magazine 104 to wait for an opportunity of driving over the slit 120. This is a standby-state of the stapler 100.
A handle 116 is provided over the driver arm 108. When a user pushes the handle 116 down, any force is applied to the driver 109 of the driver arm 108 to push out the staple 130. The handle 116 contains a main frame 116a, which is made by folding both ends of a metallic plate down to form a set shape.
A handle cover 118 is also provided over the handle 116. The handle cover 118 covers a surface of the main frame 116a of the handle 116. The handle cover 118 is formed of a frame made of plastic materials, to which any design is applied, similar to the clincher
arm cover 102.
The handle 116 and the handle cover 118 pivot at their rear end portions on a pivot 122 as a second fulcrum, which is positioned at an upper position than that of the shaft 121. The pivot 122 is constituted of, for instance, annular shaft portions lOld, lOle that are projected from each side of the clincher arm 101 and made by means of any barring process or the like, and U-shaped bearing portions 116d, 116e that are provided at each side of the handle 116 (see FIG. 3). A point of application "q" for pushing the driver arm 108 down is set on the way from the pivot 122 for the handle 116 and the handle cover 118 to a forward end of thereof along a direction toward the slit 120 for pushing the staple 130 out. A pin 124 for engaging the handle 116 with the driver arm 108 as desired is provided at the point of application "q".
Thus, when the pivot 122 is positioned at an upper position than that of the shaft 121 that is shared by the magazine 104 and the driver arm 108, the driver arm 108 is pushed down at the point of application "q" as the pivot 122 acts as a fulcrum if force is applied to the forward end of each of the handle 116 and the handle cover 118, which is set as a point "p" where the force is to be applied, so that the stapler 100 can staple a stack of paper by a staple with a small amount of force that is applied to the point "p" of the handle cover 118 (using a mechanism for multiplication of force achieved by a lever-fulcrum relationship).
In this embodiment, a back cover 126 covers a back of the stapler 100, which the shaft 121 that is assembled to the magazine 104, the driver arm 108, and the staple cover 112, the pivot 122 for the handle 116 and the handle cover 118, and the like constitute.
The back cover 126 contains a curved portion 126d. The back cover 126 is hinged along line P-P at a bottom of the curved portion
126d. A position of the line P-P is set lower than that of the shaft 121 that is assembled to the magazine 104. In this embodiment, the back cover 126 is assembled so that a forward end of the curved portion 126d extends between the handle 116 and the handle cover 118 as well as between the driver arm 108 and the handle 116. An end of the back cover 126 is attached to the magazine 104.
In this embodiment, in the handle cover 118 at its rear and upper side, a storage room 128 is prepared for storing any spare strips of staples 130. For example, the storage room 128 can store two spare strips of staples 130 with them being combined. A removable enclosure 132 is attached to the handle cover 118 over the storage room 128. The enclosure 132 covers the spare strips of staples 130 stored in the storage room 128 when the enclosure 132 is attached thereto.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show first and second important portions of the embodiment of the stapler 100 according to the invention.
In this embodiment, FIG. 2 shows an assembly of the clincher arm 101, the magazine 104, the back cover 126 and the like. FIG. 3 shows an assembly of the above-mentioned clincher arm 101, the clincher arm cover 102, the driver arm 108, the handle 116, and the handle cover 118. FIGS. 2 and 3 are used for illustrating an assembly of the embodiment of the stapler 100 according to the invention by dividing it into two parts thereof.
The magazine 104, the staple cover 112, and the back cover 126 are assembled to the clincher arm 101 as shown in FIG. 2. The clincher arm 101 contains the base frame lOla having a set shape, the holes lOlb, lOlc for allowing the shaft 121 to be passed therethrough, the annular shaft portions lOld, lOle that are projected from each side of the clincher arm 101, the apertures lOlf, lOlg for allowing any lock member to be inserted thereinto, and the clincher lOlj including the depression lOlh for clinching the staple.
In this embodiment, the back cover 126 is first attached to the magazine 104. The back cover 126 has a seat portion 126a having a set shape, which constitutes a main body of the back cover 126. On the seat portion 126a, a projected latch 126b for engaging, double-headed projection 126c each head having an inverted L-shaped profile for engaging, and the curved portion 126d for covering.
The seat portion 126a has a folded profiled shape that is folded at a set position thereof, which divides the seat portion 126a into a forward part and a rear part. The projected latch 126b for engaging is provided at a surface of the forward part of the seat portion 126a. On the forward part thereof, the double-headed projection 126c for engaging is also positioned away from the projected latch 126b by a predetermined distance.
The double-headed projection 126c of the back cover 126 is inserted into a T-shaped slit 104i in the magazine 104 . In this moment, the projected latch 126b for engaging is attached to a back surface of the magazine 104 with it being shifted while it has not yet engaged with a rectangular hole, not shown, in the magazine 104. The double-headed projection 126c is then slid along the T-shaped slit 104i so that the projected latch 126b can be latched to the rectangular hole, not shown, in the magazine 104. This enables the double-headed projection 126c to be also engaged and fixed with the T-shaped slit 104i. Of course, it is not necessary that the back cover 126 is assembled to the magazine 104 in advance, so that an order of the assembly is not limited thereto.
Next, the pusher 106, the spring guide 106a, the spring 106b are attached into the magazine 104. In this embodiment, the magazine 104 is used in which the main frame 104a with a set shape has the tyoles 104b, 104c for allowing the shaft 121 to be inserted thereinto, the. lateral holes 104d, 104e for allowing a lock pin 134, which will be
described later, to be inserter thereinto, the windows 104f, 104g for showing the strip (s) of staples, the slit 120 for allowing the staple to be pushed out, the above-mentioned rectangular hole, and the T-shaped slit 1041.
For example, the spring guide 106a is inserted into the pusher 106 and is then inserted into the spring 106b, so that an assembly can be formed. This assembly is then installed in the magazine 104. The spring 106b is positioned between a side of the pusher 106, in which any strip of staples is not installed, and the rear end of the magazine 104.
The staple cover 112 is then engaged on the magazine 104. In this embodiment, the staple cover 112 is used in which a main body 112a with a set shape has rear ends 112b, 112c with U-shaped configurations that engage the shaft 121, and an opening 112d for allowing a pusher band 106c to be engaged. The staple cover 112 is engaged with the shaft 121 together with the driver arm 108.
The pusher band 106c is then installed between the pusher 106 and the staple cover 112. The pusher band 106c has a set length and is made of a thin plate which is constituted of an arrow-like tip 161, T-shaped end 162, and projections 163. For example, the tip 161 is attached to an engaging portion 164 of the pusher 106. The T-shaped end 162 and the projections 163 are installed into the opening 112d of the staple cover 112. The pusher band 106c is made of plastic materials.
In this moment, the lock pin 134 and a lock cap 140 for capping the lock pin 134 may be attached to the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104. The magazine 104 contains the lateral holes 104d, 104e for allowing the lock pin 134 to be inserted thereinto, which are provided in a lateral direction thereof.
The lock pin 134 contains a rod portion 134a that is inserted
into the lateral holes 104d, 104e of the magazine 104 and a lock portion 134b that locks the rod portion 134a. The lock portion 134b is provided at an end of the rod portion 134a. The lock cap 140 constitutes a flange portion containing the fitting portion with a profiled step. The lock cap 140 is provided at the other end of the rod portion 134a and has a large diameter portion 14Ob and a small diameter portion 140a. The small diameter portion 140a constitutes the fitting portion.
The clincher arm 101 contains a long aperture lOlf hollowed like double-loops with an upper loop lOlp having a smaller diameter than that of a lower loop lOlq, and an oval aperture lOlg. The apertures lOlf, lOlg are, respectively, positioned so as to face the lateral holes 104d, 104e of the magazine 104 when the magazine is driven. The upper loop lOlp has the diameter, which is equal to or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134. The lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf allows the lock pin 134 to be inserted thereinto and is so positioned as to face the lateral hole 104d of the magazine 104 when the magazine 104 comes close to the clincher arm 101 so as to be almost contacted with the clincher arm 101. The lower loop lOlq has the diameter, which is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the small diameter portion 14Oa of the lock cap 140. The small diameter portion 14Oa of the lock cap 140, which is attached to the lock pin 134, is fitted into the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf when the magazine 104 comes close to the clincher arm 101 so as to be almost contacted with the clincher arm 101, thereby enabling the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104 to be locked. The large diameter portion 140b of the lock cap 140 has the diameter larger than that of the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf, which acts as the lock portion.
When the lock cap 140 is attached to the lock pin 134, they
constitute the lock member. The lock pin 134 is inserted into the lateral holes 104d, 104e of the magazine 104 and the apertures lOlf, lOlg of the clincher arm 101 so that the lock pin 134 and the lock cap 140 can lock the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101. For example, the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134 is inserted from the oval aperture lOlg of the clincher arm 101 into the long aperture lOlf thereof through the lateral holes 104e, 104d of the magazine 104. The lock cap 140 is then attached to the tip of the rod portion 134a.
In this embodiment, if the lock cap 140 is pushed onto the clincher arm 101 when the magazine 104 comes close to the clincher arm 101 so as to be almost contacted with the clincher arm 101, the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 is fitted into the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf of the clincher arm 101 so that the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 can be locked. This enables the stapler 100 to be kept under its closed condition (i.e., locking mechanism), which allowing the body of the stapler 100 to be made compact as to be convenient for carrying it or staring it. Further, because only the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 are locked in this embodiment, another member such as the handle cover 118 and the driver arm 108 is movable and thus, a strip of the staples 130 can be freely loaded in the magazine 104 by opening the handle cover 118 or the like with the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 being closed.
Alternatively, when the lock is released, the lock cap 140 is operated so as to be pushed out. In this moment, the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 is pushed out of the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf of the clincher arm 101. This enables the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134 to be moved into the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf so that the lock between the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104 can be released.
Accordingly, the clincher arm cover 102, the driver arm 108,
the handle 116, the handle cover 118, the coil springs 110, 114, which are shown in FIG. 3, are attached to an assembly containing the clincher arm 101, the magazine 104, the staple cover 112, and the back cover 126 shown in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that the driver 109 is previously attached to the driver arm 108.
In this embodiment, the assembly is performed as follows: the coil spring 110 is positioned between the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104; the coil spring 114 is positioned between the driver arm 108 and the staple cover 112; and the shaft 121 is inserted from the hole lOlb of the base frame lOla of the clincher arm 101 to the hole lOlc of the base frame lOla thereof through the holes 108b, 108c of the driver arm 108 and the holes 104b, 104c of the magazine 104. The pin 124 is then inserted from a hole 116b for the point of application "q" in the main frame 116a of the handle 116 to the hole
116c of the main frame 116a thereof through the holes 108d, 108e ^pr
•V the point of application uq" in the main frame 10i8a of the driver arm
108. The clincher arm cover 102 is then attached to the clincher arm 101. In this embodiment, in order to attain the attachment of the clincher arm cover 102 to the clincher arm 101 with them being aligned, the clincher arm cover 102 is provided with two projections 102c (hereinafter referred to as "double-head-projections") each having an inversed L-shape profile for engagement, a circular projection 102d, plural line projections 102e, a projection 102f, and a socket portion 102g. The double-head-projections 102c are set at a rear end of the clincher arm cover 102. Near the double-head-projections 102c, the circular projection 102d is set. Three line projections 102e are set at a middle of the clincher arm cover 102. The projection 102f is set on the middle line projection 102e. The socket portion 102g is set at a forward end of the clincher arm cover 102.
For example, the socket portion 102g has a U-shaped profiled
configuration into which a forward end 1011 of the clincher arm 101 fits. The circular projection 102d of the clincher arm cover 102 is then aligned with a circular opening 101k of the clincher arm 101. The double-head-projections 102c is inserted into an opening for engagement, not shown, in the clincher arm 101 and each projection of the double-head-projections 102c engages the clincher arm 101 near the opening for engagement. In this moment, the opening for engagement is set to have a length which is slightly narrower than a width of the double-head-projections 102c. When the double-head-projections 102c is inserted into the opening for engagement, the two heads of the double-head-projections 102c are brought near to each other, so that the width of the double-head-projections 102c can become narrower, thereby allowing the double-head-projections 102c to be inserted into the opening for engagement with them being brought near. After insertion thereof, the double-head-projections 102c are pushed up so that the two projections of the double-head-projections 102c can ehgage the clincher arm 101 near the opening for engagement. This enables the clincher arm cover 102 to be attached to the clincher arm 101. In this moment, engaging portions, not shown, of the clincher arm 101 engage the three line projections 102e of the clincher arm cover 102 so that the clincher arm cover 102 can be aligned to the clincher arm 101. The projection 102f on the middle line projection 102e applies any force against the clincher arm 101 so that the clincher arm cover 102 can be away from the clincher arm 101. This enables the clincher arm cover 102 to be prevented from being wobbled because the clincher arm cover 102 is away from the clincher arm 101 by the projection 102f with the clincher arm cover 102 being fixed to the clincher arm 101 by the socket portion 102g and the double-head-projections 102c. After the attachment of the clincher arm cover 102 to the
clincher arm 101, the handle cover 118 is attached to the handle 116 and the removable enclosure 132 is attached onto the handle cover 118. Finally, the back cover 126 is fitted over an opening of the rear end of the stapler 100. Thus, the stapler 100 shown in FIG. 1 is assembled.
FIG. 4 shows configurations of the lock pin 134 and the lock cap 140. The lock pin 134 shown in FIG. 4 contains ribs 134c, 134c each for preventing the lock pin 134 from being moved in an axial direction of the lock pin 134, a double-head projection portion 134d, and cut surfaces 134e, 134e in addition to the rod portion 134a and the lock portion 134b, which have been described. The double-head projection portion 134d has two hook portions 134f, 134f. The rod portion 134a is provided at its forward end with the double-head projection portion 134d to which the illustrated lock cap 140 is attached.
In this embodiment, the lock cap 140 has an opening 140c. The lock cap 140 contains the small diameter portion 140a and the large diameter portion 140b, which have been described. In the opening 140c, the lock cap 140 is provided with hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d and hook-inserting portions 140f, 140f. The lock cap 140 is pushed to the lock pin 134 so that the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134 can be inserted into its opening 140c through the hook-inserting portions 140f, 140f thereof. After the insertion, the lock cap 14 0 is rotated by 90 degrees at a predetermined direction, thereby enabling the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134 to engage the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d of the lock cap 140. This enables the lock cap 140 to be fixed to the lock pin 134.
The ribs 134c, 134c of the lock pin 134 are positioned at predetermined positions of the rod portion 134a and prevents the lock pin 134 from being returned from the predetermined positions. Each
of the ribs 134c, 134c is set to have a height of about 0.3 mm. The cut surfaces 134e, 134e are formed in the rod portion 134a so that it extends from an end of the rod portion 134a having the lock portion 134b toward the other end of the rod portion 134a up to a portion of the rod portion 134a that is positioned at about two thirds of the whole length of the rod portion 134a. The ribs 134c, 134c are positioned at upper and lower portions of the rod portion 134a relative to the cut surfaces 134e, 134e. The ribs 134c, 134c engage the magazine 104 passing through the lateral hole 104e of the magazine 104, shown in FIG. 2, and prevent the lock pin 134 from being moved from a predetermined position when any force for biasing the lock pin 134 is not applied thereto.
When the force for biasing the lock pin 134 is applied thereto, a rim of the magazine 104 around the lateral hole 104e pushes the ribs 134c, 134c so that the upper and lower portions of the rod portion 13'4a relative to the cut surfaces 134e, 134e can be warped inwardly to each other through the ribs 134c, 134c.
When the ribs 134c, 134c are then inserted into and passed through the lateral hole 104e, the upper and lower portions of the rod portion 134a relative to the cut surfaces 134e, 134e are not warped and returned to their original shapes. This enables the ribs 134c, 134c to prevent the lock pin 134 from being returned from the moved position. It is to be noted that the cut surface 134e may be formed as to pass through the rod portion 134a laterally or not to pass through the rod portion 134a laterally. If the cut surface 134e does not be formed as to pass through the rod portion 134a laterally, the rod portion 134a is less warped than the rod portion 134a in which the surface cut 134e is formed as to pass through the rod portion 134a laterally but has higher strength than that of the rod portion 134a in which the cut surface 134e is formed as to pass through the rod
portion 134a laterally. Although the ribs 134c, 134c have been provided at positions of the rod portion 134a so that the ribs 134c, 134c can be inserted into the lateral hole 104e of the magazine 104, this invention is not limited thereto. The ribs 134c, 134c may be provided at positions of the rod portion 134a so that the ribs 134c, 134c can be inserted into any one of the lateral hole 104d of the magazine 104, and the apertures lOlf, lOlg of the clincher arm 101. FIGS. 5A and 5B show a configuration of the lock pin 134. FIG. 5A is a top view of the lock pin 134 and FIG. 5B is a side view thereof. An engaging portion 134g of the each of the hook portions 134f, 134f in the double-head projection portion 134d shown in FIG. 5B has an angle of about 90 degrees in relation to an axis of the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134. Projections 134h, 134i of the double-head projection portion 134d respectively have tapered ends. This is because a forward end of the double-head projection portion 134d is made slightly narrower when the double-head projection portion 134d is inserted into the opening 140c of the lock cap 140. This allows the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134 to be closely slid into the opening 140c of the lock cap 140. The lock pin 134 is illustratively manufactured by any plastic materials according to any injection molding.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show the configuration of the lock pin 134 . FIG. 6 A is a cross-sectional view of the lock pin 134 taken on line X-X of FIG. 5B and FIG. 6B is an end view of the lock pin 134 shown from an arrow Y in FIG. 5B.
The cut surfaces 134e, 134e extend laterally in the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134 shown in FIG. 6A passing through the rod portion 134a so that a middle of the rod portion 134 in the cross-sectional view of the lock pin 134 taken on line X-X of FIG. 5B is cut away by about one third on a diameter of the rod portion 134a. On upper and
lower circular arcs of profiled rod portion 134a relative to the cut surfaces 134e, 134e, each of the ribs 134c, 134c for preventing the lock pin 134 from being returned is extended over both ends of the circular arc through a middle thereof.
FIGS. 7A through 7D respectively show a configuration of the lock cap 140. FIG. 7 A is a top plan view of the lock cap 140 shown from an arrow Yl in FIG. 4. The two hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d of the lock cap 140 are set so that they face the two hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d shown in FIG. 6B. Each of the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d has a shape similar to that of each of the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d. This allows the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d to be surely fixed on the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d, thereby preventing the lock cap 140 from being loosed after the lock cap 140 has been attached to the lock pin 134.
If the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d of the lock cap 140 engage the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134, the lock cap 140 is pushed onto the lock pin 134 with the hook-inserting portions 140f, 140f touching the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134. If the lock cap 140 is then rotated clockwise at 90 degrees in regard to a surface of drawing paper, the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d of the lock cap 140 moves to portions corresponding to the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134, so that the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d of the lock cap 140 can engage the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134.
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the lock cap 140 taken on line X1-X1 of FIG. 7A. The hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head
projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134 shown in FIG. 5B are respectively inserted along the hook-inserting portions 140f, 140f into the opening 140c of the lock cap 140 shown in FIG. 7B.
FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the lock cap 140 taken on line Y2-Y2 of FIG. 7A. To the two hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d shown in FIG. 7C, the hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134 are engaged.
FIG. 7D is a bottom plan view of.the lock cap 140 shown from an arrow Y3 in FIG. 4 (i.e., an arrow Z in FIG. 7C) . The hook portions 134f, 134f of the double-head projection portion 134d of the lock pin 134 shown in FIG. 5A are respectively inserted along the hook-inserting portions 140f, 140f into the opening 140c of the lock cap 140. The small diameter portion 14Oa of the lock cap 140 has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the large diameter portion 140b thereof by a thickness of Wl. The lock cap 140 is illustratively made of any plastic materials according to any injection molding.
FIG. 8 shows an assembly of the lock pin 134 and the lock cap 140. In FIG. 8, the lock cap 140 is attached to the lock pin 134. In this embodiment, the lock cap 140 is fixed oh the lock pin 134 by engaging each of the hook portions 134f, 134f of the lock pin 134 with each of the hook-engaging portions 140d, 140d of the lock cap 140. A forward end of each of the hook portions 134f, 134f is formed flat and thus, when the lock cap 140 is attached to the lock pin 134, the forward ends of the hook portions 134f, 134f stop with them being flat-surfaced with a surface of the lock cap 140. This enables any manipulation of the stapler 100 to be improved when the manipulation starts by pushing the surface of the lock cap 140.
The following will describe operations of a lock mechanism with

reference FIGS. 9A', through 9C and FIGS. 10A through IOC. The lock mechanism contains the clincher arm 101 having the apertures lOlf,
lOlg for locking, the magazine 104 having the lateral holes 104d, 104e into which the lock pin 134 is inserted, the lock pin 134, and the lock cap 140.
FIG. 9A shows sides of the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104. FIG. 9B illustrates a part of the lock mechanism shown from an arrow X2 in FIG. 9A. As shown in FIG. 9A, the magazine 104 is installed in the clincher arm 101 and the shaft 121 is inserted into the holes lOlb, lOlc of the clincher arm 101 and the holes 104b, 104c of the magazine 104. According to the assembling method described with respect to FIG. 2, the lock pin 134 is inserted into the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104 and the clock cap 140 is then attached to the lock pin 134.
The rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134 is inserted into the apertures lOlf, iOlg of the clincher arm 101 and the lateral holes 104d, 104e of the magazine 104, which are shown in FIG. 9B. Themagazine 104 into which the lock pin 134 and the shaft 121 are inserted stays in its standby state (lock-released state) as shown in FIG. 1 with any space between the clincher lOlj in which the depression lOlh for clinching the staple is provided and the magazine 104 in which the slit 120 is formed being kept to a predetermined amount thereof.
On this state, the lock pin 134 is positioned in the upper loop lOlp having a smaller diameter of the long aperture lOlf shown in FIGS. 9A and 9C. The small- diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 that is attached to the l&ck pin 134 as shown in FIG. 9C is not inserted into the upper loop ~k01p of the long aperture lOlf. This is because a diameter of the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 is larger than that of the upper loop lOlp of the long aperture lOlf. In this moment, there'is a clearance of about 0.2 mm between the small diameter portion 14Oaf of the lock cap 140 and the clincher arm 101 having the long aperture lOlf. The lock portion 134b of the lock pin
134, which is positioned at an opposite side of the lock cap 140, locks the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134 with the lock portion 134b touching a side wall of the clincher arm 101 in which the oval aperture 10Ig is formed.
FIG. 10A shows sides of the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104. FIG. 10B illustrates a part of the lock mechanism shown from an arrow X3 in FIG. 10A. The magazine 104 into which the lock pin 134 and the shaft 121 are inserted is moved from the standby state as shown in FIG. 9A and the like to a state where the magazine 104 having the slit 120 touches the clincher lOlj in which the depression lOlh for clinching the staple is provided.
In this state, the lock pin 134 is pushed down and moved from the position in the upper loop lOlp of the long aperture lOlf as shown in FIG. 9A to a position in the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf as shown in FIGS. 10A and IOC. In this moment, when a user pushes the lock cap 140 attached to the lock pin 134 toward a side of the clincher arm 101, the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 that is attached to the lock pin 134 as shown in FIG. 10B is inserted and fixed into the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf in the clincher arm 101 as shown in FIG. IOC, so that the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104 can be fixed (or locked). In this condition, there is a projection of the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 of about 0.3 mm from a side surface of the clincher arm 101 having the long aperture lOlf when the small diameter portion 14Oa of the lock cap 140 is inserted into the long aperture lOlf.
When the lock arm 140 is pushed toward the clincher arm 101, the ribs 134c, 134c of the lock pin 134 as shown in FIG. 9B are pushed down by the rim around the lateral hole 104e of the magazine 104 and the upper and lower portions of the rod portion 134a of the lock pin 134 relative to the cut surfaces 134e, 134e are bent through the ribs

134c, 134c. As shown in FIG. 10B, when the ribs 134c, 134c then pass through the lateral hole 104e of the magazine 104 to outside of the magazine 104, the upper and lower portions of the rod portion 134a relative to the cut surfaces 134e, 134e are not bent to return to their original positions. Thereafter, the ribs 134c, 134c prevent the lock pin 134 from being returned from the moved position thereof. In other words, the ribs 134c, 134c prevent the lock pin 134 from being returned to the original (lock-released) position thereof by its own weight or the like. This enables the stapler 100 to keep its lock condition. It is to be noted that unless a user pushes the lock cap 140 that is attached to the lock pin 134 toward a side of the clincher arm 101 with any force when the lock pin 134 is moved to the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf as shown in FIG. 10A, the stapler 100 is not returned to its lock state by itself. This is because the ribs 134c, 134c prevent the lock pin 134 from being moved along its axis direction. This can normally prevent the lock pin 134 from being moved and locked unexpectedly even if a relative position of the clincher,arm 101 and the magazine 104 becomes as shown in FIG. 10A in a part during a course of a series of the operations for stapling a stack of paper.
The following will describe operations of the stapler 100 with reference to FIGS. 11 through 13. FIG. 11 shows a side of the stapler 100. In this embodiment, the operations of the stapler 100 will be describe according to three states thereof, namely, standby state, clinched state, and locked state.
According to the standby state of the stapler 100 as shown in FIG. 11, if a standby angle constituted of the handle cover 118 and the clincher arm cover 102 is 6 I such as about 30 degrees, the stapler 100 keeps its posture. In this condition, the magazine 104 extends almost horizontally in reflation to the clincher arm cover 102. The

driver arm 108 is slightly inclined in relation to the horizontal. In this moment, the driver 109 stays on a position over the slit 120 of the magazine 104 as to be on standby without hindering any pushing operations of pusher 106 to a strip of the staples.
In this standby state, as shown in FIG. 9A, the lock pin 134 is positioned in the upper loop lOlp of the long aperture lOlf. In this moment, the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 that is attached to the lock pin 134 is not fitted into the upper loop lOlp of the long aperture lOlf, so that the lock mechanism is released. According to the clinched state of the stapler 100 as shown in FIG. 12, which is moved from the standby state as shown in FIG. 11, if a user pushes the forward end of the handle cover 118 downward toward the clincher arm 101, the handle cover 118 pivots on the pivot 122 (as a second driving axis) shown in FIG. 3, so that the handle cover 118 pushes the pin 124 and the driver arm 108 down through the handle 116.
The driver arm 108 rotates about the shaft 121 (as a first driving axis) toward the clincher arm 101 by this user's pushing. Because the coil spring 110 is set to have a smaller elasticity than that of the coil spring 114, the pushing force applied to the driver arm 108 compresses the coil spring 110.
This compression allows the magazine 104 to rotate about the shaft 121 toward the clincher arm 101 with the driver arm 108 and the staple cover 112 pushing the magazine 104. In this condition, a stack of paper 180 is held by the clincher lOlj of the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104.
If the user further pushes the forward end of the handle cover 118 down toward the clincher arm 101, any force that is stronger than an elasticity of the coil spring 114 is applied to the driver arm 108 through the handle 116, so that the coil spring 114 is compressed,
thereby allowing any pushing force accompanied by this compression to be transferred to the driver 109.
The driver 109 then drives a staple 130, which is a first staple of the strip of the staples loaded in the magazine 104, out of the slit 120 of the magazine 104. The staple 130 passes through the stack of paper 180 held by the clincher lOlj of the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104. The depression lOlh in the clincher lOlj then receives legs of the staple 130. When the staple 130 is pushed against the depression lOlh, the legs of the staple 130 are bent round inwardly to clinch the staple 130, thereby allowing a stapling operation of the stack of paper 180 to be completed.
In this clinched state, if the stack of paper 180 is thin, the magazine 104 approaches the clincher arm 101 considerably so that they can be almost connected to each other. In this case, the stapler 100 can be not moved to its locked state inconveniently unless the user pushes the lock cap 140 by any predetermined force toward the clincher arm 101 even if the lock pin 134 has moved from a position in the upper loop lOlp of the long aperture lOlf as shown in FIG. 11 to a position in the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf as shown in FIG. 12. This is because the ribs 134c, 134c prevent the lock pin 134 from being moved.
According to the locked state of the stapler 100 as shown in FIG. 13, which is moved from the clinched state as shown in FPG. 12, if the user pushes the lock cap 140 that is attached to the lock pin 134 toward the clincher arm 101 in the clinch state, the small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 is fitted into the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf in the clincher arm 101 as shown in FIG. 10B and the like, thereby fixing the clincher arm 101 and the magazine 104 (i. e., to become its locked state) . In this case, the ribs 134c, 134c of the lock pin 134 shown in FIG. 10B prevent the lock pin 134
from being returned from its locked state.
After setting the locked state, when the user stops pushing the handle cover 118 down and releases his or her finger or hand from it, the coil spring 114 expands to lift the driver arm 108, so that the handle 116 engaged with the this driver arm 108 can be also lifted up to a predetermined position. In this moment, if a locked angle constituted of the handle cover 118 and the clincher arm cover 102 is Q2 such as about 10 degrees, the stapler 100 keeps its posture. This enables a body of the stapler 100 to become compact as the stapler 100 of this locked state is compared with the stapler 100 of the standby state with the standby angle 01 (about 30 degrees) as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the stapler 100 can be convenient for its carry and storage. Since only the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 are locked, another component such as the handle cover 118 or the driver arm 108 can move. If the user lifts the handle cover 118 or the like with the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 being locked, any strips of staples 130 can be loaded in the magazine 104 as desired.
It is to be noted that the stapler 100 can be also locked if performing the operations to allow the lock pin 134 to move to its position relative to the locked state of the stapler 100 after the stapler 100 changes its state from the standby state shown in FIG. 11 to the state shown in FIG. 13 by means of any appropriate pushing of the handle cover 118. It is not always necessary that the clinched state shown in FIG. 12 should be passed during a series of operations to make the stapler 100 locked.
During a series of the operations, the handle cover 118 pivots about the pivot 122 by pushing its forward end toward the clincher arm cover 102 by the user. Based on this pushing (rotating) operation, the pin 124 provided between the forward end of the handle cover 118 and the pivot 122 functions as the point of application "q". In this
embodiment, when any force is applied to the forward end of the handle 116 or the handle cover 118, the pivot 122 acts as a fulcrum, so that the pin 124 pushes the driver arm 108 down doubly together with the forward end of the handle cover 118 using a principle of leverage. This enables the user to staple the stack of paper by the staple 130 using any less pushing-down force (a mechanism for multiplication of force achieved by a lever-fulcrum relationship).
It is to be noted that if the lock mechanism is released, in the stapler 100, the magazine 104, the driver arm 108, the driver 109, the handle cover 118 and the like are returned to their original positions by expansion of the coil springs 110, 114, so that the stapler 100 keeps its standby posture with 9 1 being 30 degrees as shown in FIG. 11.
Advantage of the Invention
Thus, according to the embodiments of the stapler 100 of this invention, the lock pin 134 to which the lock cap 140 is attached is provided and is inserted into the lateral holes 104d, 104e of the magazine 104 and the apertures lOlf, lOlg of the clincher arm 101. The small diameter portion 140a of the lock cap 140 is fitted into the lower loop lOlq of the long aperture lOlf in the clincher arm 101 when the magazine 104 comes close to the clincher arm 101 so as to be almost contacted with the clincher arm 101, so that the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 can be locked.
Thus, the stapler 100 can keep its locked state. This enables a size of the stapler body to be made compact to realize any convenience of a user in carrying or storing it. Further, since only the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 are locked, another component such a& the handle cover 118 or the driver arm 108 can move, so that a strip of the staples can be freely loaded in the magazine by lifting the
handle cover 118 or the like while the magazine 104 and the clincher arm 101 are closed.
The invention is applicable to a stapler or the like that staples a stack of desired paper by a staple. While the foregoing specification has described preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention, one skilled in the art may make many modifications to the preferred embodiment without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims therefore are intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
1. A stapler for stapling a stack of paper by folding a stapler, characterized in that:
the stapler includes a magazine for storing a strip of staples, the magazine containing a slit at an end thereof and a pivot portion at the other end thereof, the magazine further containing a lateral hole therein;
a clincher arm, an end of which is pivoted with the pivot portion of the magazine, for clinching the staple to staple the stack of paper, the clincher arm containing an clincher, at the other end thereof, that clinches the staple pushed out of the slit of the magazine, the clincher arm further containing a long aperture that faces the lateral hole when the magazine is driven; and
a lock member for locking the magazine and the clincher arm, the lock member being inserted into the lateral hole of the magazine and the long aperture of the clincher arm, the lock member further containing a fitting portion,
wherein the long aperture of the clincher arm includes a part for allowing the fitting portion of the lock member to be fitted.
2. A stapler according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lock member includes a rod portion that is inserted into the lateral hole of the magazine and the long aperture of the clincher arm;
a lock portion that locks the rod portion, the lock portion being provided at an end of the rod portion; and
a flange portion containing the fitting portion, the flange portion being attached to the other end of the rod portion,
wherein the part of the long aperture of the clincher arm allows the fitting portion of the flange portion to be fitted.
3. A stapler according to Claim 2, characterized in that the
rod portion includes:
a body containing a cut surface; and
a projection that prevents the rod .portion from being moved along an axial direction of the rod portion,
wherein the body is flexible for releasing force received by the projection.
4. A stapler substantially as herein above described in the
specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.