User selectable shaped staple and apparatus and method for use thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a user selectable shaped staples and a stapler for dispensing said user selectable staples. The stapler has a replaceable guide housing assembly designed for the particular user selectable staple having components including a punch, die and guide conforming substantially to the shape of the head of the staple for driving the user selectable staple into a designated material, such as sheets of paper, selected for said fastening method. The staples are comprised of a head portion and parallel leg portions with the legs extending substantially perpendicular from the planar head portion and wherein the head portion is of a style depicting a form such as a trademark, company logo, a letter or symbol of any kind.

1 - 47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . A user selectable shaped staple for securing items together, said user selectable shaped staple comprising: 
 a) a central section having a width and formed in a predetermined shape;    b) a first end section extending from an end of and perpendicular to said central section; and    c) a second end section extending from an end of said central section opposite said first end and parallel to said first end section, wherein, when said user selectable shaped staple secures items together said central section is positioned on one side of said secured items and said first and second end sections both pierce and extend through said items to a side of said items opposite said central section.    
   
   
       49 . The user selectable shaped staple as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said first and second end sections each have a width substantially equal to said width of said central section and first and second prongs extending from a side of said respective end section opposite the connection to said central section.  
   
   
       50 . The user selectable shaped staple as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein said predetermined shape is in the form of a logo identifying the user.  
   
   
       51 . The user selectable shaped staple as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein said first and second ends are bendable around the side of said items opposite the central section of said user selectable shaped staple.  
   
   
       52 . A shaped staple, comprising: 
 a central portion constructed to have a non-rectilinear shape;    a first end section extending from a first end region of and perpendicular to said central section, said first end section comprising saw-toothed protruding members; and    a second end section extending from a second end region of said central section opposite said first end region and parallel to said first end section, said second end section comprising saw-toothed protruding members.    
   
   
       53 . The shaped staple of  claim 52 , wherein said non-rectilinear shape comprises an alphanumeric shape.  
   
   
       54 . The shaped staple of  claim 52 , wherein said non-rectilinear shape comprises a logo.  
   
   
       55 . The shaped staple of  claim 52 , wherein said non-rectilinear shape is a user selectable shape.  
   
   
       56 . The shaped staple of  claim 52 , wherein the first end section comprises: 
 a support member integrated with said saw-toothed protruding members, the support member having a width and height, a first end integrated to said first end region, and a second end integrated to said saw-toothed protruding members.    
   
   
       57 . The shaped staple of  claim 56 , wherein said first end region has a predetermined width, and wherein said support member width is approximately the same as said predetermined width.  
   
   
       58 . The shaped staple of  claim 52 , wherein the second end section comprises: 
 a support member integrated with said saw-toothed protruding members, the support member having a width and height, a first end integrated to said second end region, and a second end integrated to said saw-toothed protruding members.    
   
   
       59 . The shaped staple of  claim 58 , wherein said second end region has a predetermined width, and wherein said support member width is approximately the same as said predetermined width.