Staple magazine for multiple width staples

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of staples comprises two or more longitudinally adjacent arrangements of staples, each arrangement having a different transverse width.

Claim 4

In a stapler having a housing supporting means for selectively ejecting U-shaped staples into a workpiece, the improvement comprising: a one-piece, integrally-formed staple magazine for containing a plurality of staples having various transverse widths, said magazine including a pair of transversely-spaced, parallel side walls and a pair of transversely-spaced, parallel inner walls disposed between and in parallel relation to said side walls, said side and inner walls defining two parallel, U-shaped channels open toward said housing and disposed to receive the legs of said staples, the transverse width of one said channel being only slightly greater than the transverse width of the legs of said staples to receive and closely confine one leg of each said staple and the transverse width of the other said channel being substantially greater than the transverse width of the legs of said staples to receive the other leg of the of each said staple, the minimum and maximum transverse widths of said staples being defined by said inner walls and side walls, respectively, and said inner walls slidably supporting said staples for longitudinal movement in said magazine.

Claim 5

In a stapler having a housing supporting means for selectively ejecting U-shaped staples into a workpiece, the improvement comprising: a one-piece, integrally-formed staple magazine for containing a plurality of staples having various transverse widths, said magazine including a pair of transversely-spaced, parallel side walls and a pair of transversely-spaced, parallel inner walls disposed between and in parallel relation to said side walls, said side and inner walls defining two parallel, U-shaped channels open toward said housing and disposed to receive the legs of said staples, the transverse width of one said channel being only slightly greater than the transverse width of the legs of said staples to receive and closely confine one leg of each said staple and the transverse width of the other said channel being substantially greater than the transverse width of the legs of said staples to receive the other leg of the of each said staple, the minimum and maximum transverse widths of said staples being defined by said inner walls and side walls, respectively, and said inner walls slidably supporting said staples for longitudinal movement in said magazine.

Claim 6

A magazine for a stapler comprising: two outer and two inner parallel walls integrally formed from one piece and defining two parallel, upwardly-open channels, one channel having a transverse width substantially greater than the transverse width of the other channel; and first and second staples each being disposed in said magazine with one leg in and closely confined by said other channel and with the other leg disposed in said one channel and being slidably supported by said inner walls, said first staple having a transverse width greater than said second staple.

Claim 7

A magazine for a stapler comprising: two outer and two inner parallel walls integrally formed from one piece and defining two parallel, upwardly-open channels, one channel having a transverse width substantially greater than the transverse width of the other channel; and first and second staples each being disposed in said magazine with one leg in and closely confined by said other channel and with the other leg disposed in said one channel and being slidably supported by said inner walls, said first staple having a transverse width greater than said second staple.

Claim 8

A magazine for a stapler comprising: a one-piece integrally-formed, elongated staple guide means for containing a plurality of U-shaped staples having various transverse widths, said guide means including parallel side walls and two parallel inner walls disposed between said side walls defining two parallel, U-shaped channels, one said channel being disposed to receive and closely confine one leg of each said staple and the other channel being disposed to receive the other leg of each said staple, the transverse width of said other channel being substantially greater than the transverse width of said one channel, said inner walls being disposed to slidably support said staples, said inner walls defining the minimum transverse width of said staples and the inner surfaces of said side walls defining the maximum transverse width of said staples, and means for advancing said staples along the length of said magazine.

Claim 9

A magazine for a stapler comprising: a one-piece integrally-formed, elongated staple guide means for containing a plurality of U-shaped staples having various transverse widths, said guide means including parallel side walls and two parallel inner walls disposed between said side walls defining two parallel, U-shaped channels, one said channel being disposed to receive and closely confine one leg of each said staple and the other channel being disposed to receive the other leg of each said staple, the transverse width of said other channel being substantially greater than the transverse width of said one channel, said inner walls being disposed to slidably support said staples, said inner walls defining the minimum transverse width of said staples and the inner surfaces of said side walls defining the maximum transverse width of said staples, and means for advancing said staples along the length of said magazine.

Claim 10

A stapler comprising: a housing having first and second ends; means in said housing for ejecting a staple from the first end thereof; magazine means pivotally secured to the second end of said housing for containing and feeding towards the first end a plurality of U-shaped staples having different transverse widths, said magazine means comprising: a one-piece, integrally-formed, elongated staple guide including parallel side walls and two parallel inner walls disposed between said side walls defining two parallel, U-shaped channels open towards said housing, one said channel being disposed to receive and closely confine one leg of each said staple and the other channel being disposed to receive the other leg of each said staple, the transverse width of said other channel being substantially greater than the transverse width of said one channel, said inner walls being disposed to slidably support said staples, said inner walls defining the minimum transverse width of said staples and the inner surfaces of said side walls defining the maximum transverse width of said staples, and means biased towards said first end for advancing all said staples in said staple guide.

Claim 11

A stapler comprising: a housing having first and second ends; means in said housing for ejecting a staple from the first end thereof; magazine means pivotally secured to the second end of said housing for containing and feeding towards the first end a plurality of U-shaped staples having different transverse widths, said magazine means comprising: a one-piece, integrally-formed, elongated staple guide including parallel side walls and two parallel inner walls disposed between said side walls defining two parallel, U-shaped channels open towards said housing, one said channel being disposed to receive and closely confine one leg of each said staple and the other channel being disposed to receive the other leg of each said staple, the transverse width of said other channel being substantially greater than the transverse width of said one channel, said inner walls being disposed to slidably support said staples, said inner walls defining the minimum transverse width of said staples and the inner surfaces of said side walls defining the maximum transverse width of said staples, and means biased towards said first end for advancing all said staples in said staple guide.

Claim 12

The magazine of claim 5 or 6 also including a plurality of staples disposed in said magazine with one leg of each staple being in said one channel, some of said plurality of staples having different transverse widths than other of said plurality of staples.

Claim 13

The magazine of claim 5 or 6 also including a plurality of staples disposed in said magazine with one leg of each staple being in said one channel, the transverse width of said plurality of staples being between said minimum and maximum transverse widths.

Claim 14

The magazine of claim 6 wherein said means for advancing said staples includes an elongated U-shaped staple advancing member having one leg of said U disposed to fit within said one channel.

Claim 15

The magazine of claim 9 wherein said staple advancing member includes a staple engaging end and means for attaching a spring at the end of said staple advancing member opposite said staple engaging end.

Claim 16

The magazine of claim 9 wherein said magazine is disposed to pivot about one end and disposed to latch at the opposite end where said staples are driven from said magazine.

Claim 17

The magazine of claim 9 wherein said staple advancing member includes a projection disposed to slidably engage an elongated slot in one side wall of said staple guide.

Claim 18

The magazine of claim 12 wherein said staple advancing member includes a staple engaging end, said staple advancing member including means for attaching a spring at the end of said staple advancing member opposite said staple engaging end and wherein said projection is on the end of said staple advancing member that includes said spring attaching means.