[0001] The present invention relates to a stationery accessory, and in particular relates
to a stationery accessory which is configured to be attached to a stack of sheet articles,
such as a stack of sheets of paper, by means of a staple. The stationery accessory
is also configured to remove the staple from the stack of sheet articles.
[0002] It is well known to secure a stack of sheets of paper, or other sheet articles, together
by means of a staple ejected from a stapler, so as to puncture all of the sheets in
the stack.
[0003] A stapler generally comprises a lower arm pivotally connected at one of its ends
to a corresponding end of an upper arm such that the free ends of the arms are in
spaced apart opposition. The free end of the lower arm has an anvil which is in opposition
to a delivery head located at the free end of the upper arm. The upper arm carries
a cassette of staples which are spring loaded against the delivery head. The cassette
of staples comprises an inverted, flat-bottomed U-sectioned channel with a plurality
of frangible sections, each of which defines a staple.
[0004] In order for a stack of sheets to be stapled, the stack is placed between the free
ends of the arms of the stapler such that the lowermost sheet of the stack lies adjacent
the anvil and the uppermost sheet of the stack lies adjacent the delivery head. Upon
downward motion of the upper arm towards the lower arm, the frangible section at the
end of the cassette becomes separated from the rest of the cassette to define a staple.
The staple therefore comprises a thin element having a substantially flat base and
two downwardly projecting puncture arms. Further downward motion of the upper arm
drives the free ends of the puncture arms of the staple through the stack of sheets
until the free ends of the puncture arms engage with recesses in the anvil which bend
the arms outwardly or inwardly such that they lie generally parallel with the lower
most sheet of the stack. Therefore, the stack of sheets become secured by the staple.
It is usual for a staple to be stapled through the top left hand corner of a stack
of sheets to facilitate the folding of the sheets over the base of the staple to view
the sheets below. It is to be appreciated that the stapler mechanism by which the
staple is applied to a stack of sheets may vary, but the end result is generally the
same.
[0005] A consequence of securing a stack of sheets in this manner is that the upper and
lower sheets of the stack can become vulnerable to tearing because they are only secured
to the rest of the stack by way of the small areas of contact presented by the base
of the staple abutting the upper sheet and the free ends of the puncture elements
abutting the lowermost sheet. Therefore, general handling of the stack of sheets,
such as when sheets of the stack are folded over about the staple to enable viewing
of sheets beneath, can cause tearing of the upper and lower sheets, resulting in them
becoming detached from the rest of the stack.
[0006] Furthermore, general handling of a stapled stack of sheets may cause the sheets to
move relative to each other such that the holes made through the sheets by the staple
become enlarged, resulting in a reduction in the security of the staple fastening.
[0007] It is known that after a stack of sheets has been stapled together as described above,
it is sometimes necessary to separate one or more of the sheets from the stack which
requires the removal of the staple from the stack. To do this, the free ends of the
puncture arms of the staple, which lie adjacent the lowermost sheet of the stack,
must be bent back to their initial straight configuration to enable them to be withdrawn
back through the holes that they initially made through the stack.
[0008] In this regard it is common to use a stationery accessory such as a staple remover
to remove a staple from a stack of sheets. Such a staple remover typically comprises
a pair of arms which are pivotally connected together at one end and which have opposing
teeth at their free ends. The teeth on each arm have a wedge profile which starts
at a point at the free end of the arm and which tapers away towards its arm in the
direction of the pivot. When the arms are brought together, the opposing teeth overlap
each other. Therefore, in order to remove a staple from a stack of sheets, the points
of the teeth are brought together between the base of the staple and the uppermost
sheet such that further motion of the arms towards each other causes the base to be
drawn away from the points of the teeth in the direction of the pivot along the intersection
of the wedge profiles, and hence away from the top sheet of the stack. The free ends
of the puncture arms are therefore bent straight as they are withdrawn through their
respective holes in the stack of sheets, enabling the staple to be removed from the
stack of sheets.
[0009] However, the disadvantage of using such a staple remover is that not only is the
staple remover not always conveniently available when needed, it can sometimes be
difficult to engage the teeth between the base of the staple and the uppermost sheet
which can cause damage to the uppermost sheet of the paper. Furthermore, removal of
the staple from the stack can also cause damage to the lowermost sheet of the stack
as the free ends of the puncture arms are withdrawn through the stack.
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stationery accessory.
[0011] According to the present invention there is provided a stationery accessory comprising:
a pair of elements spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to allow
a stack of sheet articles to be inserted between the elements so that the accessory
can adopt an in-use position in which a first of said elements is positioned adjacent
the uppermost sheet of the stack and the second of said elements is positioned adjacent
the lowermost sheet of the stack, each said element being made from material suitable
for puncture by a staple to permit a staple to be stapled, in sequence, through the
first element, through the stack and through the second element when the accessory
is in said in-use position to secure the stationery accessory to the stack, wherein
at least said first element is configured so as to remove said staple from the stack
of sheet articles and from the second element as the first element is pulled away
from the uppermost sheet of the stack, after said securement.
[0012] Preferably, the second element has sufficient strength to resist damage by the staple
when the staple is removed from the second element.
[0013] Advantageously, at least the first element is flexible.
[0014] Conveniently, both the first and second elements are flexible.
[0015] Preferably, the first and second elements are connected to one another.
[0016] Advantageously, said connection defines an elongate abutment portion, such that when
the stationery accessory is in the in-use position a first edge of each sheet article
in the stack of sheet articles abuts the elongate abutment portion.
[0017] Conveniently, a locating abutment portion is provided on at least one of said elements,
such that when the stationery accessory is in the in-use position a second edge of
each sheet article in the stack abuts the locating abutment portion, and wherein the
second edge is orthogonal to the first edge.
[0018] Preferably, the first and second elements are hingedly connected to one another.
[0019] Advantageously, the first and second elements are connected by a living hinge.
[0020] Conveniently, the stationery accessory is formed of a plastics material.
[0021] Preferably, at least the first element has a gripping formation, said gripping formation
being configured to be gripped by a user so as to facilitate said pulling of the first
element away from the uppermost sheet of the stack.
[0022] Advantageously, the second element is also provided with a gripping formation.
[0023] Conveniently, the or each gripping formation takes the form of a tab.
[0024] Preferably, the or each tab has a gripping projection.
[0025] Advantageously, the or each tab is connected to the respective element by a hinge.
[0026] Conveniently, the or each tab is connected to the respective element by a living
hinge.
[0027] Preferably, wherein the or each gripping formation is spaced from the connection
between the first and second elements.
[0028] Advantageously, the stationery accessory is provided with indicia.
[0029] Conveniently, the first and second elements are substantially planar.
[0030] Preferably, the stationery accessory is provided with a label.
[0031] Advantageously, the stationery accessory is provided on the corner of a stack of
sheet articles when in the in-use position.
[0032] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features
thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by
way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stationery accessory according to the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of the stationery accessory of Figure 1 in an
in-use position located on the corner of a stack of sheets of paper;
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the stationery accessory illustrated
in Figure 2 taken along A-A;
Figure 4 corresponds generally with Figure 3 but shows the stationery accessory partially
removed from the stack of sheets;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of stationery accessory in
an in-use position located on the corner of a stack of sheets of paper;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of stationery accessory which
is similar to that illustrated in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of stationery accessory shown in
two alternate in-use positions;
Referring initially to figure 1, there is illustrated a stationery accessory 1 which
is in accordance with the present invention. The stationery accessory 1 comprises
a first upper element 2 and a second lower element 3, both of which are substantially
planar. The lower element 3 has a triangular plan profile having a pair of orthogonal
side edges 4, 5 and an hypotenuse edge 6.
[0033] The upper element 2 has a similar triangular profile to that of the lower element
3, the upper element having a pair of orthogonal side edges 7, 8 and an hypotenuse
edge 9. The upper element 2 is superimposed above the lower element 3 and is spaced
from the lower element 3.
[0034] The upper and lower elements 2, 3 are connected together along respective superimposed
edges 4, 7 by a connection formation 10 which spaces the upper element 2 from the
lower element 3 such that the planes of the upper and lower elements 2, 3 are, at
least initially, substantially parallel.
[0035] The connection formation 10 is preferably formed integrally with the upper element
2 and lower element 3, and comprises an element of substantially uniform thickness
which extends in an arc from the edge 4 of the lower element 3 to the corresponding
edge 7 of the upper element 2 such that the respective inner surfaces of the upper
element 2 and lower element 3, and the connection formation 12 together define a channel
11 with substantially parallel sides. As will become clear hereinafter, the inner
surface of the connection formation 10 defines an elongate abutment portion 12.
[0036] The connection formation 10 defines a hinge 13 whose axis extends parallel with the
upper and lower edges 4, 7, and along the centre of the connection formation 10. The
hinge 13 is preferably a living hinge which comprises a section of reduced thickness.
Therefore, the space between the elements 2, 3 can be increased or decreased.
[0037] Extending outwardly from the hypotenuse edge 9 of the upper element 2, is a gripping
formation in the form of a substantially planar tab 14. The tab 14 is hingedly connected
to the upper element 2 by means of a hinge 15 whose axis is coincident with the hypotenuse
edge 9. The hinge 15 is preferably a living hinge, which enables the tab 14 to be
moved about the axis of the hinge 15. As can be seen from figure 1, because the tab
14 is formed along the hypotenuse edge 9, it is spaced from the connection formation
10.
[0038] The stationery accessory 1 is preferably made from a plastics material which is suitable
for puncture by a staple as will be described in more detail below. Also, a preferred
embodiment is formed such that the upper and lower elements 2, 3 are flexible.
[0039] Referring now to figures 2 and 3, the above-described stationery accessory is shown
mounted in position on a stack of sheet articles. A corner 16 of the stack of sheet
articles 17, such as a stack of sheets of paper which are required to be stapled together,
is shown having been inserted into the channel 11 so that the accessory adopts an
in-use position in which the elongate abutment portion 12 of the connection formation
10 abuts the edges 18 of one side of the stack 17. It can be seen from figure 3, that
in the in-use position illustrated, the upper element 2 is positioned adjacent an
uppermost sheet 19 of the stack 17 and the lower element 3 is positioned adjacent
a lowermost sheet 20 of the stack 17. It is to be appreciated that due to the hinge
13, the space between the elements 2, 3 can be increased or decreased sufficiently
to allow stacks of different thicknesses to be inserted between them. Preferably the
hinge 13 is provided with a degree of inherent resilience to bias to upper and lower
elements towards one another.
[0040] The stationery accessory 1 can then be stapled to the stack 17, by means of a staple
21 ejected from a conventional stapler. As mentioned above, a staple 21 generally
comprises a base 22 having two downwardly projecting puncture arms 23 which are configured
to be driven through a stack of sheets which require stapling.
[0041] Accordingly, when the stationery accessory 1 is in the in-use position on the corner
16 of a stack of sheets 17, the free ends of the puncture arms 23 can be driven simultaneously
in sequence through the upper element 2, through the stack 17, and then through the
lower element 3 to secure the staple 21 to the stack 17 as illustrated in figure 3.
[0042] It should be appreciated that because the upper and lower elements 2, 3 abut a greater
area of the uppermost and lowermost sheets 19, 20 of the stack 17 than the area which
would be abutted only by a staple 21 (i.e. without the stationery accessory also being
secured to the stack 17), the likelihood of tearing, or detachment of the uppermost
and lowermost sheets 19, 20 from the stack 17 due to general handling of the stack
17 may be reduced.
[0043] It should also be appreciated that because the edge 18 of each sheet article in the
stack 17 abuts the elongate abutment portion 12 over a substantial length, relative
rotational movement between the sheets of the stack 17 about the staple 21 may be
reduced, also making for a more secure fixing.
[0044] Referring now to figure 4, it can be seen that the stationery accessory 1 also has
a second function. As shown, the tab 14 can be bent away from the uppermost sheet
19 about the tab hinge 15 to enable both sides of the tab 14 to be gripped between
the fingers of the user. Figure 4 shows that as the user pulls on the tab 14 in a
direction generally away from the uppermost sheet 19, the upper element 2 is moved
away from the uppermost sheet 19 of the stack 17 such that the upper element 2 pivots
about the hinge 13 and the space between the upper and lower elements 2, 3 is increased.
The consequence of this is that the upper element 2 bears against the base 22 of the
staple 21 and withdraws the staple 21 from the stack 17. It is to be appreciated that
as the staple 21 is being withdrawn from the stack 17 the free ends of the puncture
arms 23 of the staple 21 pass back through their respective puncture holes in the
lower element 3, their free ends being bent from their inwardly or outwardly securing
position back towards their initial straight position, to facilitate this withdrawal.
[0045] Therefore, the staple 21 and the stationery accessory 1 can be conveniently removed
from the stack 17 in a simple manner, without the need for any additional tool to
remove the staple.
[0046] It is to be appreciated that the spacing of the tab 14 from the connection formation
10 facilitates the pulling of the upper element 2 away from the uppermost sheet 19,
and provides sufficient leverage to withdraw the staple 21 from the stack 17.
[0047] The material of the upper element 2 should possess sufficient strength to resist
substantial deformation by the base 22 of the staple 21 as it is being pulled away
from the uppermost sheet 19 of the stack 17 so that the staple 21 can be removed from
the stack 17.
[0048] It is to be appreciated that as the free ends of the puncture arms 23, are being
withdrawn through their respective puncture holes in the lower element 3, it is the
periphery of each hole which acts as a die to force the free end of its puncture arm
23 to bend from its inwardly or outwardly directed securing position back towards
its initial straight position. Therefore, it is preferable that the material of the
lower element 3 should possess sufficient strength to resist damage to the respective
puncture holes as the free ends of the puncture arms 23 of the staple 21 are being
withdrawn through them. This is to prevent the holes from becoming enlarged, or the
area surrounding the holes from becoming deformed to the extent that damage is caused
to the lowermost sheet 20 of the stack 17 as the staple 21 is being removed.
[0049] Referring now to figure 5, there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of stationery
accessories. The same reference numerals are used for this embodiment to identify
features which correspond to features of the first embodiment illustrated in figures
1 to 4. Accordingly, there is illustrated a stationery accessory which is similar
to that of the first embodiment in that the upper element 2 generally has a triangular
plan profile but differs in that the hypotenuse edge 9 is not straight but curved.
Furthermore, a generally planar tab 14 is provided which is of triangular form and
which is hingedly connected to the upper element 2 in an apex region between the side
edge 8 and hypotenuse edge 9, the axis of the hinge 15 of the tab 14 lying parallel
with the side edge 7 and hence with the hinge 13 of the connection formation 10.
[0050] Referring now to figure 6, there is illustrated a further embodiment of stationery
accessory which differs from the one illustrated in figure 5 in that the hypotenuse
edge 9 extends all of the way from the side edge 7 to the side edge 8 in a generally
sinusoidal curve, and that the tab 14 has a plan profile which defines the apex between
the side edge 8 and the hypotenuse edge 9. Furthermore, the tab 14 is provided with
a series of gripping projections 24 to provide an improved gripping surface for the
user when the tab 14 is being gripped by the user to pull the upper element 2 away
from the uppermost sheet 19 of the stack 17.
[0051] Referring now to figure 7, there is illustrated another embodiment of stationery
accessory shown in alternate positions on the stack 17. In this embodiment, both the
upper and lower elements 2, 3 have a substantially semi-circular profile. With regard
to the upper element 2, it can be seen that this profile is defined by side edge 25
and an arcuate edge 26 which extends between the ends of the side edge 25. Figure
7 shows that this embodiment of stationery accessory can be placed in its in-use position
along any side edge of the stack 17. Furthermore, the upper element 2 is not provided
with a tab, but the material of the upper element 2 is sufficiently flexible that
when the stationery accessory 1 is in the in-use position and stapled to a stack of
sheets 17, the user can lift the upper element 2 away from the uppermost sheet 19
of the stack 17 by placing a fingernail under the arcuate edge 26 of the upper element
2 and then grip the upper and lower surfaces of the upper element 2 between his or
her other fingers to pull the upper element 2 away from the uppermost sheet 19.
[0052] It is envisaged that the embodiments referred to in figures 1 - 6 could be modified
to have a tab on both the upper element 2 and lower element 3, or to have no tabs
at all and ensuring that the material of the upper and/or lower elements 2, 3 is sufficiently
flexible to enable a user to grip the upper and/or lower element 2, 3 in the manner
described above with regard to the embodiment illustrated in figure 7.
[0053] It is also envisaged that the embodiments of stationery accessory illustrated in
figures 1-6 could be provided with a locating abutment portion on either the upper
element 2 or the lower element 3. The locating abutment portion would take the form
of a projection, or lip, upstanding from the inner surface of the element such that
when the stationery accessory is in the in-use position, the edges 18 of a first side
of the stack 17 abut the elongate abutment portion and the edges 18 of a second side
of the stack 17 abut the locating abutment portion, thus ensuring accurate location
of the stationery accessory 1 on the corner of the stack.
[0054] It is to be appreciated that all of the embodiments of stationery accessory described
above can be provided with surface indicia or labels as a means of identification.
[0055] Furthermore, it is envisaged that once the stationery accessory has been secured
to a stack of sheets 17 by means of a staple 21, a label may be stuck to the lowermost
element 3 over the free ends of the puncture arm 23 as a security measure. If the
stationery accessory were to be used to remove the staple from the stack 17, then
the label would become damaged indicating that the stack of sheets 17 has been tampered
with. A supply of such labels could be supplied in combination with the stationery
accessory.
[0056] It is also envisaged that after the stationery accessory has been used to remove
a staple from a stack 17, it can then be reused.
[0057] Finally, it is envisaged that prior to placing the stationery accessory 1 onto a
stack of sheets 17 it could be stored in an initial flat position wherein the upper
and lower elements 2, 3 are opened out about the hinge 13 such that they lie substantially
in the same plane.
[0058] When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising"
and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included.
The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps
or components.
[0059] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or
the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means
for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed
result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be
utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
1. A stationery accessory comprising:
a pair of elements spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to allow
a stack of sheet articles to be inserted between the elements so that the accessory
can adopt an in-use position in which a first of said elements is positioned adjacent
the uppermost sheet of the stack and the second of said elements is positioned adjacent
the lowermost sheet of the stack, each said element being made from material suitable
for puncture by a staple to permit a staple to be stapled, in sequence, through the
first element, through the stack and through the second element when the accessory
is in said in-use position to secure the stationery accessory to the stack, wherein
at least said first element is configured so as to remove said staple from the stack
of sheet articles and from the second element as the first element is pulled away
from the uppermost sheet of the stack, after said securement.
2. A stationery accessory according to Claim 1, wherein the second element has sufficient
strength to resist damage by the staple when the staple is removed from the second
element.
3. A stationery accessory according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least the first
element is flexible.
4. A stationery accessory according to any preceding Claim, wherein both the first and
second elements are flexible.
5. A stationery accessory according to any preceding Claim, wherein the first and second
elements are connected to one another.
6. A stationery accessory according to claim 5, wherein said connection defines an elongate
abutment portion, such that when the stationery accessory is in the in-use position
a first edge of each sheet article in the stack abuts the elongate abutment portion.
7. A stationery accessory according to Claim 6, wherein a locating abutment portion is
provided on at least one of said elements, such that when the stationery accessory
is in the in-use position a second edge of each sheet article in the stack abuts the
locating abutment portion, and wherein said second edge is orthogonal to said first
edge.
8. A stationery accessory according to any preceding Claim, wherein the first and second
elements are hingedly connected to one another.
9. A stationery accessory according to Claim 8, wherein the first and second elements
are connected by a living hinge.
10. A stationery accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein the stationery accessory
is formed of a plastics material.
11. A stationery accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein at least the first
element has a gripping formation, said gripping formation being configured to be gripped
by a user so as to facilitate said pulling of the first element away from the uppermost
sheet of the stack.
12. A stationery accessory according to Claim 11, wherein the second element is also provided
with a gripping formation.
13. A stationery accessory according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the or each gripping
formation takes the form of a tab.
14. A stationery accessory according to Claim 13, wherein the or each tab has a gripping
projection.
15. A stationery accessory according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the or each tab
is connected to the respective element by a hinge.
16. A stationery accessory according to Claim 13 to Claim 15, wherein the or each tab
is connected to the respective element by a living hinge.
17. A stationery accessory according to any one of Claim 11 to Claim 16, wherein the or
each gripping formation is spaced from the connection between the first and second
elements.
18. A stationery accessory according to any preceding claim provided with indicia.
19. A stationery accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second
elements are substantially planar.
20. A stationery accessory according to any preceding claim, being provided with a label.
21. A stationery accessory according to any preceding claim, being provided on the corner
of a stack of sheet article when in the in-use position.