Stapler anvil
AssigneeACCO Brands Corporation
InventorAnthony Jairam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stapler anvil and method for clinching a staple is disclosed. The anvil includes a body having a well. The well has an axis extending between the legs of a staple and is defined by a first surface having a first portion along which the first leg of the staple is directed as the staple is being clinched, and a second portion extending substantially at an angle relative to the first portion to direct the second leg of the staple at least partially away from the axis as the staple is clinched. The well is further defined by a second surface spaced from the first surface. The second surface is configured to redirect the second leg of the staple at least partially back toward the axis after the second leg has been directed at least partially away from the axis by the second portion of the first surface.
Claims9
A method of clinching a staple having a first leg and a second leg, the method comprising:
- inserting the legs into a well in an anvil, the well being defined by stationary surfaces, the inserted legs defining an axis extending between an insertion point of the first leg and an insertion point of the second leg;
- bending the first leg;
- bending the second leg at least partially away from the axis due to engagement of the second leg with a first one of the stationary surfaces;
- and
- subsequent to bending the second leg at least partially away from the axis, bending the second leg at least partially back toward the axis due to engagement of the second leg with a second one of the stationary surfaces.
A method of clinching staples in a stapler having an anvil with a well defined by stationary surfaces and no moving parts, each staple having a first leg and a second leg and being capable of stapling a range of sheets, the method comprising:
- inserting a first fractional portion of the range of sheets into the stapler;
- inserting the legs of a first staple through the first fractional portion of the range of sheets and into the well;
- using a first set of stationary surfaces that defines a portion of the well to clinch the legs of the first staple in a first configuration;
- removing the stapled first fractional portion of the range of sheets from the stapler;
- inserting a second fractional portion of the range of sheets into the stapler, the second fractional portion being different from the first fractional portion;
- inserting the legs of a second staple through the second fractional portion of the range of sheets and into the well;
- and
- using a second set of stationary surfaces that defines a portion of the well to clinch the legs of the second staple in a second configuration, the second set of stationary surfaces being different from the first set of stationary surfaces and the second configuration being different from the first configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.