Turf stapler

Abstract

A turf stapler is disclosed having, in one embodiment, a reciprocating, manually operated plunger with a pin that engages a recess in a reciprocating ram, causing the ram to eject staplers into a ground cover and the ground.

1 . A turf stapler comprising: 
 a receiver;    a magazine;    a ram; and    a plunger;    said receiver including a track within which said ram reciprocates;    said receiver further including a barrel within which said plunger reciprocates;    said plunger including a pin;    said ram including a recess;    said pin engaging said recess such that reciprocating motion of said plunger controls reciprocating motion of said ram;    wherein said ram is a close sliding fit in said track and said plunger is a loose sliding fit in said barrel; and    wherein said pin is a loose fit in said recess.    
   
   
       2 . A turf stapler comprising: 
 a receiver;    a magazine;    a ram;    a plunger;    said receiver including a track within which said ram reciprocates;    said receiver further including a barrel within which said plunger reciprocates; and    a means for engaging said plunger with said ram such that reciprocating motion of said plunger controls reciprocating motion of said ram.    
   
   
       3 . The turf stapler of  claim 1 , wherein said ram is a close sliding fit in said track and said plunger is a loose sliding fit in said barrel.  
   
   
       4 . The turf stapler of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding removal of said plunger from said barrel causes the sliding removal of said ram from said track.  
   
   
       5 . The turf stapler of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger further comprises a pin formed in at least one end of the plunger.  
   
   
       6 . The turf stapler of  claim 5 , wherein the pin is oriented to be perpendicular to the major axis of the plunger.  
   
   
       7 . The turf stapler of  claim 5 , further comprising a flange removably attached to the plunger.  
   
   
       8 . The turf stapler of  claim 7 , wherein the flange is attached to the plunger by a pin disposed within a hole formed through the flange and the plunger.  
   
   
       9 . The turf stapler of  claim 7 , further comprising a handle attached to the flange.  
   
   
       10 . The turf stapler of  claim 8 , further comprising a coil spring which surrounds the plunger wherein the coil spring biases the handle away from the barrel.  
   
   
       11 . The turf stapler of  claim 2 , wherein the plunger further comprises a pin formed in at least one end of the plunger.  
   
   
       12 . The turf stapler of  claim 11 , wherein the pin is oriented to be perpendicular to the major axis of the plunger.  
   
   
       13 . The turf stapler of  claim 11 , further comprising a flange removably attached to the plunger.  
   
   
       14 . The turf stapler of  claim 13 , wherein the flange is attached to the plunger by a pin disposed within a hole formed through the flange and the plunger.  
   
   
       15 . The turf stapler of  claim 13 , further comprising a handle attached to the flange.  
   
   
       16 . The turf stapler of  claim 15 , further comprising a coil spring which surrounds the plunger wherein the coil spring biases the handle away from the barrel.  
   
   
       17 . The turf stapler of  claim 2 , wherein the sliding removal of said plunger from said barrel causes the sliding removal of said ram from said track.  
   
   
       18 . The turf stapler of  claim 2 , wherein an end plate of said magazine on an end opposite that of said receiver is removable for accessing a follower that is at least partially enclosed within said magazine.  
   
   
       19 . The turf stapler of  claim 2 , wherein said ram is a close sliding fit in said track and said plunger is a loose sliding fit in said barrel.  
   
   
       20 . The turf stapler of  claim 2 , wherein the sliding removal of said plunger from said barrel causes the sliding removal of said ram from said track.  
   
   
       21 . The turf stapler of  claim 2 , wherein said magazine comprises a follower that is constructed to be engaged with a cartridge of staples in a first position and to be cocked away from a staple output for loading said staples in a second position.  
   
   
       22 . The turf stapler of  claim 21 , wherein said follower is held in said second position by a stop formed on a hollow tube within said magazine, said tube constructed such that said follower can slide along said tube.  
   
   
       23 . A method of stapling a ground cover to the ground, comprising: 
 placing a ground cover on an area of ground to be stapled;    placing the turf stapler of  claim 9  on the ground cover;    moving the handle of the turf stapler toward the ground wherein the plunger is moved downward through the barrel, forcing the ram to contact a first staple in the magazine wherein the first staple is moved away from the magazine through the ground cover and inserted into the ground.