Stapler with tapered anvil

Claim 1

In a stapler adapted to bend a generally U-shaped staple having a central portion and a leg projecting from each end of said central portion into a generally rectangular closed shape by bending two predetermined spaced parts of the central portion, said stapler comprising: a housing having a passageway with an outlet opening, said passageway being partially defined by a planar guide surface; an anvil fixed to said housing and projecting from said guide surface across said passageway at said outlet opening, said anvil having surfaces disposed generally at right angles to said guide surface including opposite edge surfaces spaced at a distance corresponding to the distance between said predetermined spaced parts and a contact surface transverse of said passageway between said edge surfaces and adapted to engage the central portion of a said staple; means for positioning a said stable at said anvil with the central portion extending across said contact surface and the predetermined parts along the central portion at said edge surfaces, and the legs projecting along said edge surfaces and said guide surface; a ram having a top side surface positioned along said guide surface, and spaced tip portions with a generally U-shaped opening therebetween defined by end surfaces disposed in a U-shaped pattern and generally at right angles to said guide surface, said end surfaces including an innermost surface generally parallel and opposed to said contact surface and opposed side surfaces generally parallel to said edge surfaces and spaced apart a distance exceeding the distance between said edge surfaces by about twice the thickness of the central portion of a said staple, said ram being mounted on said housing for movement from a first position affording positioning a said staple along said guide surface, to a second formed position with the side surfaces of said ram opposite the edge surfaces of said anvil to bend the staple closed around said anvil, the improvement wherein: said edge surfaces of said anvil adjacent said guide surface each are disposed at an acute included angle of no less than 80 degrees with respect to said guide surface so that a said staple being bent around said anvil by said ram will remain generally in alignment with said guide surface until the staple is closed.