IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,902,094
Granted Patent B2
US 6,902,094 · App. 10/450,070 · Granted Jun 7, 2005

Stapler apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,902,094
App. No.
10/450,070
Granted
Jun 7, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stapler apparatus is equipped with linked staples and includes a staple feed member configured for feeding staples to a driving position, a staple driver operable to drive the staples from the driving position into a stack of sheets, and an anvil unit operable to engage and clamp the stack of sheets to be stapled. The staple feed member is powered by movement of the anvil unit.

Claims (17)

1. A stapler apparatus equipped with linked staples, the stapler apparatus comprising:

a staple feed member configured for feeding staples to a driving position;

a staple driver operable to drive the staples from the driving position into a stack of sheets; and

an anvil unit operable to engage and clamp the stack of sheets to be stapled;

wherein the staple feed member is powered by movement of the anvil unit.

2. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the staple feed member includes a feed pawl in contact with the linked staples.

3. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anvil unit includes an anvil head that engages and clamps the stack of sheets to be stapled, and wherein the anvil head supports a feeding pawl charge lever configured to selectively engage the staple feed member to initiate the feeding of staples by the staple feed member.

4. The stapler apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the feeding pawl charge lever is pivotally connected to the anvil head.

5. The stapler apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:

a resilient member operable to urge the staple feed member in a staple feeding direction to feed staples toward the driving position;

wherein a resilient force is created in the resilient member by the engagement of the feeding pawl charge lever with the staple feed member, and the resilient force of the resilient member urges the staple feed member in the staple feeding direction.

6. The stapler apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the feeding pawl charge lever includes a stepped surface configured to permit the staple feed member to move in the staple feeding direction after the feeding pawl charge lever has engaged the staple feed member to create the resilient force in the resilient member.

7. The stapler apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the staple feed member moves in the staple feeding direction after a staple in the staple driving position is driven by the staple driver.

8. The stapler apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the resilient member is a leaf spring.

9. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the staple feed member is initially actuated by movement of the anvil unit toward a sheet clamping position, prior to movement of the staple driver.

10. The stapler apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the staple feed member moves in a staple feed direction to feed a staple to the staple driving position after the movement of the anvil unit toward the sheet clamping position has initially actuated the staple feed member and after the staple driver has driven a staple.

11. The stapler apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the staple driver and the anvil unit are arranged on opposite sides of the linked staples, and the staple feed member is disposed on a same side of the linked staples as the anvil unit.

Assignments (12)
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 028217/0360 Recorded May 23, 2013
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EXISTING SWING LINE LENDER AND EXISTING L/C ISSUER
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SWING LINE LENDER AND L/C ISSUER
Reel/Frame 030486/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028168 FRAME 0713. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEES ACCO BRANDS USA LLC AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION ARE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNEES. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028487/0671 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028168 FRAME 0738. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEES ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION ARE ADDITIONAL ASIGNEES. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028488/0056 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2012
From: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 028217/0360 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028168/0738 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028168/0713 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 30, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; DAY-TIMERS INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; POLYBLEND CORPORATION; SWINGLINE, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 023449/0180 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2009
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023312/0784 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 2, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; DAY-TIMERS INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; POLYBLEND CORPORATION; SWINGLINE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 023312/0902 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2005
From: ACCO BRANDS, INC.
To: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 016674/0785 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2005
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 016914/0813 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2003
From: MOCHIZUKI, NAOTO; SAJIKI, YOSUKE
To: ACCO BRANDS, INC.; NISCA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014478/0203 →