Patents Assigned to WorkTools, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7407072
    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 down to a desktop surface to guide paper sheets atop the base, easy access for lifting the stapler off a desk while in its 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Patent number: 7404507
    Abstract: A spring energized stapler includes a “high start” design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20080149683
    Abstract: A miniature spring-actuated stapler includes a tapered, flat power spring to store energy and eject staples. The power spring pivots at a rear of the stapler housing and includes three co-extensive arms terminating near the striker. As the L-shaped handle of the stapler is pressed, it acts on the center arm of the power spring to deflect it downward while the outer arms deflect upward. The arms are integral at a rear end and the outer arms are linked to the striker at the front. A tapered, flat reset spring disposed generally parallel to the power spring is used to reset the internal action. The housing includes open top and rear areas with the handle providing the enclosure thereof. A base assembly is slidably attached at a bottom of the stapler with an open position exposing a staple-loading chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20080149681
    Abstract: A miniature spring-actuated stapler includes a tapered, flat power spring to store energy and eject staples. The power spring pivots at a rear of the stapler housing and includes three co-extensive arms terminating near the striker. As the L-shaped handle of the stapler is pressed, it acts on the center arm of the power spring to deflect it downward while the outer arms deflect upward. The arms are integral at a rear end and the outer arms are linked to the striker at the front. A tapered, flat reset spring disposed generally parallel to the power spring is used to reset the internal action. The housing includes open top and rear areas with the handle providing the enclosure thereof. A base assembly is slidably attached at a bottom of the stapler with an open position exposing a staple-loading chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20080093413
    Abstract: A spring energized stapler includes a “high start” design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: JOEL MARKS
  • Publication number: 20080041912
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Patent number: 7328827
    Abstract: A spring energized stapler includes a “high start” design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20080011808
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicants: ACCENTRA, INC., WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Melgaard, Joel Marks
  • Publication number: 20070272721
    Abstract: A spring energized stapler includes a “high start” design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Patent number: 7299960
    Abstract: A miniature spring-actuated stapler includes a tapered, flat power spring to store energy and eject staples. The power spring pivots at a rear of the stapler housing and includes three co-extensive arms terminating near the striker. As the L-shaped handle of the stapler is pressed, it acts on the center arm of the power spring to deflect it downward while the outer arms deflect upward. The arms are integral at a rear end and the outer arms are linked to the striker at the front. A tapered, flat reset spring disposed generally parallel to the power spring is used to reset the internal action. The housing includes open top and rear areas with the handle providing the enclosure thereof. A base assembly is slidably attached at a bottom of the stapler with an open position exposing a staple-loading chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20070266836
    Abstract: A compact hole punch device includes a generally vertical entry paper slot with an elongated handle hinged at one end of the punch device extending toward the opposite end of the device along side the paper slot. A chip chamber extends along the punch device opposite the slot from the handle. A roller cam mechanism concentrates forces in a small area of the device to provide a very compact, rigid action. An elongated chip tray is pivotably attached to the chip chamber including a lowered position where chips are easily emptied out an open distal end of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Publication number: 20070267472
    Abstract: A hole punch device that reduces the force required to create a hole in papers or other sheet media. A punch element of the hole punch device includes a locally sloped or indented floor to create a bend in the sheet media as it is punched to create an enlarged, oval hole. The punch pin may include an expanding sleeve surround the pin that forms a larger diameter during the cutting stroke and springs back to a smaller diameter during a pull out stroke. A coiled torsion return spring is positioned remotely from and non-coaxially with the punch pin. A keyed pin and support frame arrangement ensures a predetermined rotational orientation of the pin for sequential cutting for reduced cutting force. A long lead-in surface in the frame helps installing sheet media into the feed slot of the punch element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Patent number: 7290469
    Abstract: A heavy duty, large self-forming socket having a plurality of retractable gripping pins bundled in parallel and held in a frame within a housing is disclosed. The frame is positioned axially within the housing by radially extending, elongated hold elements that are positioned circumferentially around the housing. Slots in the housing exterior allow efficient inspection of the position of holes into which the hold elements are installed. A collar with shelf around the center pin protects the bias spring for the pin from over-compression. The gripping pins may be held to the frame by spring clips and/or a resilient O-ring. An adaptor is attached wherein a secondary operation is used to remove the adaptor from the square end of the socket. The self-forming socket is well suited for use with valves and controls for water, gas, sewage conduits and piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventors: Maynard A. Walters, Joel S. Marks, Stephen Quick
  • Patent number: 7290692
    Abstract: A safety mechanism to prevent unintended ejection of a staple or fastener in a stapler or fastening tool. A low-start version of the stapler has a handle that when pressed pivots a lever which lifts a striker and energizes a power spring. At the release point, the striker is released and accelerated under spring bias into a staple, ejecting the staple by impact blow. A high-start version has the striker stationary in the upper position as the power spring is energized. In the safety mechanism, a movable hook or arm selectively prevents the striker, and linked components thereto, from completing an operational cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 7234621
    Abstract: A safety mechanism to prevent unintended ejection of a staple or fastener in a stapler or fastening tool. A low-start version of the stapler has a handle that when pressed pivots a lever which lifts a striker and energizes a power spring. At the release point, the striker is released and accelerated under spring bias into a staple, ejecting the staple by impact blow. A high-start version has the striker stationary in the upper position as the power spring is energized. In the safety mechanism, a movable hook or arm selectively prevents the striker, and linked components thereto, from completing an operational cycle. In one embodiment the safety mechanism includes a working surface sensing button bar operating in conjunction with the hook that latches the striker. The safety mechanism can also be a pivoting lock bar that engages the working surface, which surface pivots the lock bar into engaging the power spring, handle, and/or striker thereby preventing such components from reaching the release point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 7222768
    Abstract: A desktop stapler includes an automatic opening staple track whereby when the stapler is opened by pivoting the body about the base, the track is de-latched by ribs of the base, and the track slides out from a chamber within the body. The stapler includes a track alignment system that holds the front of the body precisely over the anvil by use of forward and rear torque arm contact areas between the base and track. The stapler also features a striker bottom edge that is shaped to follow the curved shape of the anvil so that the striker may enter the anvil recess without impacting the anvil. A staple chamber in the stapler has staple exit ribs that allow only one staple at a time to be ejected from the staple chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20070108251
    Abstract: A safety mechanism to prevent unintended ejection of a staple or fastener in a stapler or fastening tool. A low-start version of the stapler has a handle that when pressed pivots a lever which lifts a striker and energizes a power spring. At the release point, the striker is released and accelerated under spring bias into a staple, ejecting the staple by impact blow. A high-start version has the striker stationary in the upper position as the power spring is energized. In the safety mechanism, a movable hook or arm selectively prevents the striker, and linked components thereto, from completing an operational cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: JOEL MARKS
  • Patent number: 7216791
    Abstract: A spring actuated stapler includes a lever releasably linked to a striker at a lever front end. An elongated power spring is linked to the striker so that raising the lever front end deflects the power spring. The lever and power spring pivot about a common fulcrum structure. The fulcrum structure includes a rear facing surface and the lever pivots about the rear facing surface when the lever is near a lever release point. This pivot location is adjacent to the power spring, at a bottom of the structure of the fulcrum. With the lowest possible pivot location the lever retracts and releases from the striker more quickly than if the lever pivots about a higher location at a fulcrum “axial center”. The release action is therefore more consistent, and less sensitive to manufacturing variations of the stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: D542613
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Marks
  • Patent number: D567043
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Marks, Surapon Arleekul