Desktop Staplers

Desktop Staplers Sources: http://virtualstapler.com, http://www.amazon.com, and http://www.paperpro.com

Stapler - Definition • “a machine for fastening together sheets of paper or the like with wire staples” – Webster’s Dictionary • “a mechanical device that joins together sheets of paper or other materials or substances by driving a thin metal staple through the sheets and folding over the ends to secure the paper” – Wikipedia.org • “a portable device or machine that inserts and clinches a wire staple in paper in a single operation” – Henry R. Heyl, Patent No. 195,603

Earliest Stapler • Earliest known stapling device was developed for King Louis XV of France in the 1700’s • It used ornate handmade staples imprinted with the insignia of the royal court • Some claim that the staples were made of gold and encrusted with precious stones Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

The First Stapler in America? • On September 30, 1841, Samuel Slocum of Poughkeepsie, NY received Patent No. 2,275 for a “Machine for sticking pins into papers”, which is widely regarded as the first paper fastening device patented in the U.S. • This is incorrect – device is a pin packaging machine (it puts 16 pins into a single sheet of paper), not a paper fastener Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

The First U.S. Stapler: Patent No. 195,603 • First U.S. patent for a stapler was awarded to Henry R. Heyl of Philadelphia, PA on September 25, 1877 for “Improvement in devices for inserting metallic staples” • Recognized as the first device to punch through a stack of papers, insert a wire staple, and clinch the staple after being inserted • As the title of the patent implies, this was not a new device but an improvement on existing ones… Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

Early Fastening Devices: 1859 • Patent No. 26,134 issued for a “Machine for inserting eyelets”, which was designed to fasten “a number of folds of paper, cloth, leather, or other soft material” • Required three operations: 1) Punch the material 2) Insert the fastener 3) Clinch the fastener • Advantage: • Single lever to punch and clinch Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

Early Fastening Devices: 1868 • Patent No. 83,640 was issued for “Improvement in Paper Fasteners”, a.k.a. Paper Clip • This machine actually used a staple to fasten papers together • User placed a single large staple on sharp points at base of machine • Papers to be fastened were then placed on top • Points pierced the paper and inserted staple when plunger was depressed • Staple not clinched – ends of staple had to be bent by hand after removing the stack of papers from the device Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

Early Fastening Devices: 1874 • Patent No. 150,025 issued in 1874 for “Improvement in Temporary Binders” This is the entire patent!

Excerpts from Patent No. 150,025 (1874) • “This invention has relation to the devices for pressing and filing letters, papers, and other loose or unbound matter; and it consists in combining, with a slotted or recessed follower and a removable standard, devices for holding pointed wire staples, on which the papers can be secured together and removed from the press…” • Wire staple b b is “fitted into the grooves made in plate A and held down by free ends of spring-plates c c. …The papers are filed upon these staples and confined under pressure by means of the follower and its screw where the follower is perforated at e to allow the prongs of the staples to pass through it.” • “When a file is complete, the follower is raised…and by means of pliers, the projecting ends of the staples are twisted together, thus securing the file in a very neat and permanent manner.” • “What I claim as new…[t]he bed A, having the spring staple-holding fingers c’, in combination with the recessed follower D and the removable standard B, substantially as described.”

Early Fastening Devices: 1879 • George W. McGill received Patent No. 212,316 for a “Device for Inserting Metallic-Staples in Paper, &c.” on February 18, 1879 • This is considered the first patent for a commercially viable stapler Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

Early Fastening Devices: 1896 • McGill’s Single-Stroke Staple Press used wire staples that were placed one-at-a-time into the machine, which were inserted and clinched in a single operation of the plunger • The first strip-fed stapler was the Star Automated Paper Fastener (Patent No. 572,346 awarded to James A. Keyes of New York on December 1, 1896) and made by the E. H. Hotchkiss Co. of Norwalk, CT • Retailed for $1.20 in 1896 (~$26 today) • Manufactured and sold until mid-1920’s • Strips held 25 staples (96 staples with tail) • Easy to load but costly Source: http://www.westgroton.com/staplers/stapler_history.html

Staple-less Staplers • Staple-less staplers were first introduced by the Clipless Paper Fastener Co. (in 1909) and by Bump’s Perfected Paper Fastener Co. (in 1910) • These fasten paper by cutting and folding a small flap in the papers to lock them together: http://virtualstapler.com/gallery/paperstapler_movie2.asp Staple-less Staplers • Bump Stand Machine introduced in 1916 and sold until 1950 with “Patent Pending” A paper “weld” Source: http://www.officemuseum.com/staplers.htm and stapler_gallery_stapless.htm

Magazine Stapler – The Dominant Design • The dominant design of today emerged in the late mid-20th century • John Munford, an Englishman who sold his invention to his employer for a small profit, is credited with the basic design of the conventional magazine stapler even though he was never officially recognized for his creation • Other advancements that led to this becoming the dominant design: 1) Frozen wire staples: wire staples that were glued together first appeared in a January 1927 advertisement for Parrot Speed Fasteners (Stanley-Bostitch's company claims to have introduced the first cohered staples in 1924) 2) Top (or open channel) loading magazines: invented in 1938 by Speed Products Co.'s Swingline Speed Fasteners 3) Photocopying machines: increased use necessitate that paper fasteners be easily removed so that documents could be copied – staples from strip stapling machines and eyelets were not easy to remove 4) Easy to add electric power to magazine staplers: electric staplers were introduced in the 1950s (electric eyelet presses were also marketed) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stapler and http://www.officemuseum.com/staplers.htm

A Better Stapler • Enter PaperPro… • Co-founded in 2003 by a graduate of Bucknell University (BSME’98) • Sold 1 million units in its first six months • Highlighted in Time, Wired, on CNBC, by Martha Stewart, and many others • “A better stapler… Brilliant.” – Don Norman, the author of The Design of Everyday Things (http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/paperpro_desktop_sta.html) Source: http://www.paperpro.com/technology/

PaperPro’s Technology Source: http://www.paperpro.com/technology/

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Spring Energized Desktop Stapler Abstract “A desktop stapler uses a spring to store energy to install staples by impact blow. The force required to fasten papers together is reduced. A very compact mechanism is used, including a dual coil power spring with a nested lever. A multi function base provides a sloped front all the way to down to a desk top surface to guide paper sheets atop the base, easy access for lifting the stapler off a desk, horizontal or vertical resting positions, and integrated soft grip under-surface. The base surrounds the rear of the stapler body to provide a smooth exterior so that the device is natural to use both horizontally and vertically. A simple re-set spring provides a smooth re-set action as the handle is raised. A staple track includes enlargement features to fit a larger staple pusher spring.” Source: http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html

Source: http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html

The Stapler Wars • Requires ~7lbs of force to use compared to 15-30lbs for regular stapler • At Staples stores, sales average 20 units/week, 10 times their estimate • This was a wake-up call for Swingline, Boston, and Stanley-Bostitch • PaperPro’s inspiration: EasyShot® Staple Gun

EasyShot® Staple Gun Recoil spring Handle Lever 1 Lever 2 Pin Power spring Absorber Striker Source: S. Shooter, Bucknell University

How EasyShot® Staple Gun Works • User presses on the handle, which is part of lever 1 • Lever 1 moves, which in turn moves lever 2, causing lever 2 to compress the recoil spring • Lever 2 pushes the striker upwards, which is connected to the power spring, compressing the power spring, and storing energy • Lever 2 rotates about the pin until striker connection is lost, releasing the energy stored in the power spring • The striker moves quickly downward, and a staple is fired; the recoil spring returns the assembly to its original position • The staples are pushed along the staple track by the staple pusher and are pushed against the interchangeable staple size guide Source: S. Shooter, Bucknell University

How a PaperPro Stapler Works Source: http://www.paperpro.com/technology/index.php?tid=61

Desktop Staplers