IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,571,537
Granted Patent B2
US 7,571,537 · App. 11/110,643 · Granted Aug 11, 2009

Powered stapler

Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,571,537
App. No.
11/110,643
Granted
Aug 11, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A powered stapler includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion movably coupled to the first portion. The stapler is actuated by creating relative movement between the first and second housing portions. The second housing portion includes an elongated trigger member, that when moved relative to the first housing portion, actuates the powered stapler to drive a staple into a stack of sheets. The stapler is configured to be held in a single hand of the user and can be actuated by the user squeezing his or her hand while holding the stapler.

Claims (42)

1. A hand-actuated powered stapler having a front end adjacent to a staple ejection location and a rear end opposite the front end, the stapler comprising:

an electrically operable staple drive mechanism;

a housing at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism; and

a trigger member pivotally connected to the housing at a point closer to the rear end of the stapler than to the front end of the stapler;

wherein the stapler is actuated by creating relative movement between the trigger member and the housing.

2. The powered stapler of claim 1 , wherein the stapler has an overall length measured from the front end to the rear end, and wherein the trigger member is pivotally connected to the housing at a location between a midpoint of the stapler's overall length and about seventy-five percent of the stapler's overall length.

3. The powered stapler of claim 1 , wherein the stapler has an overall length, and wherein the trigger member has a length greater than fifty percent of the overall length of the stapler.

4. The powered stapler of claim 3 , wherein the trigger member has a length of between about fifty percent of the overall length of the stapler and about seventy-five percent of the overall length of the stapler.

5. The powered stapler of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an opening exposing at least a portion of the drive mechanism, and wherein the trigger member is configured to substantially close the opening.

6. The powered stapler of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first housing portion, and wherein the trigger member defines a second housing portion at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism such that, the first and second housing portions substantially enclose the drive mechanism.

7. The powered stapler of claim 1 , wherein the trigger member is at least partially covered with a resilient membrane.

8. The powered stapler of claim 1 , further comprising a mode selection switch operable to selectively permit actuation of the stapler upon movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing.

9. The powered stapler of claim 1 , further comprising a switch electrically connected to the drive mechanism, and wherein movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing activates the switch to actuate the drive mechanism.

10. The powered stapler of claim 9 , wherein the trigger member includes a post configured to engage a contact plunger on the switch to activate the switch, and wherein movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing engages the post with the contact plunger.

11. The powered stapler of claim 1 , wherein the trigger member has a length such that a user who grasps and squeezes the stapler will actuate the stapler without the need to accurately position a finger on an actuation button.

12. A hand-actuated powered stapler comprising:

an electrically operable staple drive mechanism;

a housing at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism; and

a trigger member movably coupled to the housing;

wherein the stapler is actuated by creating relative movement between the trigger member and the housing; and

wherein the stapler has an overall length, and wherein the trigger member has a length greater than fifty percent of the overall length of the stapler.

13. The powered stapler of claim 12 , wherein the trigger member has a length of between about fifty percent of the overall length of the stapler and about seventy-five percent of the overall length of the stapler.

14. The powered stapler of claim 12 , wherein the housing defines an opening exposing at least a portion of the drive mechanism, and wherein the trigger member is configured to substantially close the opening.

15. The powered stapler of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a first housing portion, and wherein the trigger member defines a second housing portion at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism such that, the first and second housing portions substantially enclose the drive mechanism.

16. The powered stapler of claim 12 , wherein the trigger member is at least partially covered with a resilient membrane.

17. The powered stapler of claim 12 , further comprising a mode selection switch operable to selectively permit actuation of the stapler upon movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing.

18. The powered stapler of claim 12 , further comprising a switch electrically connected to the drive mechanism, and wherein movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing activates the switch to actuate the drive mechanism.

19. The powered stapler of claim 18 , wherein the trigger member includes a post configured to engage a contact plunger on the switch to activate the switch, and wherein movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing engages the post with the contact plunger.

20. The powered stapler of claim 12 , wherein the trigger member is pivotally connected to the housing.

21. The powered stapler of claim 20 , wherein the overall length of the stapler is measured from a front end of the stapler to a rear end of the stapler, and wherein the trigger member is pivotally connected to the housing at a location between a midpoint of the stapler's overall length and about seventy-five percent of the stapler's overall length.

22. A hand-actuated powered stapler comprising:

an electrically operable staple drive mechanism;

a housing at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism; and

a trigger member movably coupled to the housing;

wherein the stapler is actuated by creating relative movement between the trigger member and the housing; and

wherein the housing includes a first housing portion, and wherein the trigger member defines a second housing portion at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism such that, the first and second housing portions substantially enclose the drive mechanism.

23. The powered stapler of claim 22 , wherein the trigger member is at least partially covered with a resilient membrane.

24. The powered stapler of claim 22 , further comprising a mode selection switch operable to selectively permit actuation of the stapler upon movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing.

25. The powered stapler of claim 22 , further comprising a switch electrically connected to the drive mechanism, and wherein movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing activates the switch to actuate the drive mechanism.

26. The powered stapler of claim 25 , wherein the trigger member includes a post configured to engage a contact plunger on the switch to activate the switch, and wherein movement of the trigger member with respect to the housing engages the post with the contact plunger.

27. The powered stapler of claim 22 , wherein the trigger member has a length such that a user who grasps and squeezes the stapler will actuate the stapler without the need to accurately position a finger on an actuation button.

28. The powered stapler of claim 22 , wherein the trigger member is pivotally connected to the housing.

Assignments (12)
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 028217/0360 Recorded May 17, 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 030427/0574 →
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 Jul 12, 2005
From: ADAMS, DAVID P.; DELMAN, JOEL G.; PULIK, LINDA; CONKLIN, MELANIE LYN; KRAPFL, CLIFFORD; WORTH, CORY WILLIAM; GAYNES, STEPHEN JOHN; DE ROSSI, MICHAEL F.
To: ACCO BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016516/0635 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6056385500 · Apr 20, 2004
Related Publication 20050242150A1 · Nov 3, 2005