Safety device for tackers

Abstract

A safety device for tackers includes a safety slide slidably connected to the outlet of the tacker and the safety slide has a stop protruding from the inside thereof. The rod has one end contacts the stop and the other end of the rod has a plastic tip connected thereto. An ignition spring is connected between the plastic tip and a safety switch. A recovery spring is connected to another position of the rod to position the rod. The safety slide is slidably connected to grooves of the tacker. When the safety slide contacts against an object to be stapled, the rod is pushed by the stop and activates the ignition spring to activate the safety switch so as to reduce the impact of the rod and the safety switch.

Claims

1. A safety device for a tacker configured to eject a staple, comprising: a body having an outlet defined through a front end thereof, and enclosing staple ejection electronics and an operation path defied in the body, the operation path communicating with the outlet; a rod movably located in the operation path and having a contact portion formed at a first end thereof, a connection portion formed at a mediate portion of the rod, a recovery spring mounted to the connection portion to provide a recovery force to the rod, a seat formed at a second end of the rod and having a tip extending therefrom; a safety slide being a U-shaped plate and having two wings extending from two sides thereof, the safety slide slidably mounted to an exterior of the front end of the body and located corresponding to the outlet of the body such that the two wings surround a portion of the front end of the body and extend into the body, the safety slide having a U-shaped bottom edge formed at a distal end thereof, a stop extending from the safety slide and located corresponding to the contact portion of the rod, when the safety slide is slid, the stop contacts the contact portion and drives the rod to be retracted into the body; an ignition spring mounted to the tip of the seat, and a safety switch located in the body and having a contact plate extending therefrom, the contact plate being pushed by the ignition spring to send a tacking signal when the rod is retracted back into the body; wherein the U-shaped bottom edge of the safety slide and a portion of the body extending parallel to the U-shaped bottom edge of the safety slide are configured to extend adjacent to an object that will receive an ejected staple; wherein the safety slide is pressed onto the object that will receive the ejected staple until the body makes contact with the object that will receive the ejected staple, said pressing of the safety slide causing the contact plate of the safety switch to be pushed; and wherein contact between the object that will receive the ejected staple and the safety slide is visible from the exterior of the front end of the body.

2. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 1, wherein an index portion formed at the safety slide includes a side index portion on each of the two wings of the safety slide.

3. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 1, wherein an index portion formed at the safety slide includes a front index portion on a front of the safety slide.

4. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 1, wherein a notch is defined in the bottom edge of the safety slide.

5. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip is located at a distal end of the seat and movable with the rod in an axial direction of the rod.

6. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact plate of the safety switch is pushed by the ignition spring which is moved along an axial direction of the rod.

7. A tacker configured to eject a staple, comprising: a body having an outlet defined through a front end thereof, and enclosing staple ejection electronics and an operation path defied in the body, the operation path communicating with the outlet a rod movably located in the operation path and having a contact portion formed at a first end thereof; a safety slide being a U-shaped plate and having two wings extending from two sides thereof, the safety slide slidably mounted to an exterior of the front end of the body and located corresponding to the outlet of the body such that the two wings surround a portion of the front end of the body and extend into the body, the safety slide having a U-shaped bottom edge formed at a distal end thereof, a stop extending from the safety slide and located corresponding to the contact portion of the rod, when the safety slide is slid, the stop contacts the contact portion and drives the rod to be retracted into the body; a safety switch located in the body and having a contact plate extending therefrom, the contact plate being pushed to send a tacking signal when the rod is retracted back into the body; wherein the U-shaped bottom edge of the safety slide and a portion of the body extending parallel to the U-shaped bottom edge of the safety slide are configured to extend adjacent to an object that will receive an ejected staple; wherein the safety slide is pressed onto the object that will receive the ejected staple until the body makes contact with the object that will receive the ejected staple, said pressing of the safety slide causing the contact plate of the safety switch to be pushed; and wherein contact between the object that will receive the ejected staple and the safety slide is visible from the exterior of the front end of the body.

8. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 7, wherein an index portion formed at the safety slide includes a side index portion on each of the two wings of the safety slide.

9. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 7, wherein an index portion formed at the safety slide includes a front index portion on a front of the safety slide.

10. The safety device for a tacker as claimed in claim 7, wherein a notch is defined in the bottom edge of the safety slide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the rod, the safety slide, and the safety switch of the safety device of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the safety device of the present invention installed in a tacker;

(3) FIG. 3 shows that the rod is pushed against an object to be stapled and the rod is pushed backward;

(4) FIG. 4 shows that a cable to be stapled is positioned by the notch of the safety slide of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a conventional safety device installed in a tacker;

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates that the rod of the conventional safety device is about to contact against an object to be stapled;

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates that the rod of the conventional safety device contacts a thin object to be stapled, and

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates that the rod of the conventional safety device begins to move toward contacts against the object to be stapled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the safety device of the present invention comprises a body 10 having an outlet 11 defined through the front end thereof, and an operation path 12 is defied in the body 10 and communicates with the outlet 11. A rod 20 is movably located in the operation path 12 and has a contact portion 21 formed at the first end thereof. A seat 22 is formed at the second end of the rod 20 and has a plastic tip 23 extending therefrom. A recessed area is defined in one side of the mediate portion of the rod 20 and a connection portion 24 is formed at the recessed area. The connection portion 24 extends along the axial direction of the rod 20. A recovery spring 25 is mounted to the connection portion 24 to provide a recovery force to the rod 20.

(10) A safety slide 30 is a U-shaped plate 31 and has two wings 32 extending from two sides thereof that surround a portion of the front end of the body 10 and extend into the body 10. The safety slide 30 is slidably mounted to the front end of the body 10 and located corresponding to the outlet 11 of the body 10. The safety slide 30 has a bottom edge 33 formed at the distal end thereof so as to contact against an object to be stapled. A notch 36 is defined in the bottom edge 33 of the safety slide 30 so as to secure a cable L as shown in FIG. 4 to be stapled. The shape and size of the notch 36 can be varied according to the cable L to be secured. An index portion 34 formed at the safety slide 30. The index portion 34 includes a side index portion 341 on each of the two wings 32 of the safety slide 30, and a front index portion 342 on the top of the safety slide 30. A stop 35 extends from the bottom of the safety slide 30 and is located corresponding to the contact portion 21 of the rod 20. An ignition spring 40 is mounted to the plastic tip 23 of the seat 22. The plastic tip 23 is located at the distal end of the seat 22 and movable with the rod 20 in the axial direction of the rod 20. A safety switch 50 is located in the body 10 and has a contact plate 51 extending therefrom. The contact plate 51 is pushed by the ignition spring 40 to send a stapling signal to the related electrical means of the tacker when the rod 20 is retracted back into the body 10. It is noted that the contact plate 51 of the safety switch 50 is pushed by the ignition spring 40 which is moved along the axial direction of the rod 20.

(11) As shown in FIG. 3, when the tacker is used to staple an object, the safety slide 30 is pushed against the object and slid upward, the stop 35 contacts the contact portion 21 and drives the rod 20 to be retracted into the body 10. The rod 20 moves backward and the ignition spring 40 is movable with the rod 20 and activates the contact plate 51 of the safety switch 50 so that a stapling signal is sent and the staple is ejected.

(12) The ignition spring 40 is compressible so that when it touches the contact plate 51 of the safety switch 50, the compression of the ignition spring 40 absorbs a certain level of impact applied to the safety switch 50. This feature also prevent the plastic tip 23 from being damaged. The ignition spring 40 pushes the contact plate 51 along the axial direction of the rod 20 so that even if the object is thin, the safety switch 50 is activated properly.

(13) The present invention provides the recovery spring 25 and the ignition spring 40, the two springs 25, 40 absorb impact so that the rod 20 does not hit the safety switch 50 hardly.

(14) The user can check the position that the staples will be stapled on the object by the side and front index portions 341, 342 to prevent incorrectly stapling. The notch 36 of the safety slide 30 ensures that the cable L to be stapled is secured.

(15) While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.