Fastening Device

Abstract

A fastener, such as a staple, includes a body having a bridge portion, a first leg, and a second leg. The body extends along an axial direction. Each of the first and second legs has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surfaces of the first and second legs are disposed in facing relation to define a distance therebetween. In one embodiment, the distance decreases along the axial direction in a direction towards the bridge portion.

1 . A staple, comprising:
 a first leg extending between a first tip and a first striking surface, the first leg having a width;   a second leg extending between a second tip and a second striking surface;   a bridge portion disposed between the first and second legs, the bridge portion disposed axially at a location between the first and second legs;   wherein the width of the first leg generally increases over at least a portion of the first leg in an axial direction from the first tip towards the first striking surface.   
     
     
         2 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second striking surfaces are coplanar. 
     
     
         3 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second legs has an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second legs are parallel; and wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second legs are disposed in facing relation to define a distance therebetween that decreases along the axial direction in a direction towards the bridge portion. 
     
     
         4 . The staple of  claim 2 , wherein the first leg includes:
 a tapered portion disposed between the first striking surface and the first tip;   wherein the inner edge of the first leg is disposed at an angle relative to the axial direction over at least a segment of the tapered portion.   
     
     
         5 . The staple of  claim 4 , wherein the first leg further comprises a straight portion having a uniform width along the axial direction, the straight portion disposed between the first tip and the tapered portion. 
     
     
         6 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion defines a depressed area disposed between the first and second striking surfaces and offset therefrom in the axial direction. 
     
     
         7 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a uniform thickness, T. 
     
     
         8 . The staple of  claim 6 , wherein the body is made from a punching operation applied to a metal plate material, and wherein the first or second tips are rounded or pointed. 
     
     
         9 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion forms a concave cutout between the first and second legs adjacent the bridge portion. 
     
     
         10 . The staple of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more depressions formed along the outer surface of at least one of the first and second legs. 
     
     
         11 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second legs have a different respective length in the axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The staple of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second legs together have a generally rectangular cross sectional shape when viewed along the axial direction such that they are stackable with other body portions of a plurality of staples to form a stack, the stack being adapted for insertion into a fastener housing of a powered stapler. 
     
     
         13 . A staple, comprising:
 a body having first and second legs connected at a striking end, each of the a first and second legs extending between a respective tip and a respective striking surface at the striking end;   each of the first and second legs having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces converging at least partially along a length of each of the first and second legs such than a distance between the first and second legs gradually decreases over at least the portion of the body near the bridge portion;   wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second legs are substantially parallel to one another and to the axial direction along said length.   
     
     
         14 . The staple of  claim 13 , wherein the first leg includes:
 a tip portion disposed opposite a striking surface;   a straight portion disposed adjacent the tip portion; and   a tapered portion disposed adjacent the straight portion;   wherein the inner edge of the first leg is disposed at an angle relative to the axial direction over at least a segment of the tapered portion, and   wherein the inner edge extends parallel to the axial direction over at least a segment of the straight portion.   
     
     
         15 . The staple of  claim 13 , wherein the body includes a depressed area disposed between the two striking surfaces, two striking surfaces being coplanar and generally located in aligned relation with the tips of the first and second legs in the axial direction. 
     
     
         16 . The staple of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more depressions formed along the outer surface of at least one of the first and second legs. 
     
     
         17 . A staple, comprising:
 a first leg extending between a first tip and a first striking surface;   a second leg extending between a second tip and a second striking surface, the second leg being oriented such that the first and second tips are adjacent and the first and second striking surfaces are adjacent in an axial direction;   a bridge extending between the first and second legs, the bridge axially disposed between the first and second tips and the first and second striking surfaces;   wherein each of the first and second legs has an inner surface and an outer surface;   wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second legs converge at an area near the bridge portion to define, together, concave features of different radii within the body between the first and second legs, the different radii being axially aligned.   
     
     
         18 . The staple of  claim 17 , wherein the first leg includes:
 a straight portion disposed adjacent the first tip; and   a tapered portion disposed adjacent the straight portion opposite the first tip;   wherein the inner edge of the first leg is disposed at an angle relative to the axial direction over at least a segment of the tapered portion, and   wherein the inner edge extends parallel to the axial direction over at least a segment of the straight portion.   
     
     
         19 . The staple of  claim 17 , wherein the bridge includes a depressed area disposed between the first and second striking surfaces, the first and second striking surfaces being coplanar. 
     
     
         20 . The staple of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more depressions formed along the outer surface of at least one of the first and second legs. 
     
     
         21 . A staple, comprising:
 first and second legs extending substantially in parallel in an axial direction, each of the first and second legs extending between a respective tip and a respective striking surface;   a bridge connected to the first and second legs between the two respective tips and the two respective striking surfaces;   wherein the two respective striking surfaces are coplanar and perpendicular to the axial direction;   wherein each of the first and second legs has an inner surface and an outer surface;   wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second legs are parallel and perpendicular to the two respective striking surfaces;   wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second legs are disposed in facing relation to define a distance therebetween that decreases along the axial direction in a direction towards the bridge portion.   
     
     
         22 . A staple, comprising:
 first and second legs, each of the first and second legs extending between a respective tip and a respective striking surface along an axial direction, the striking surfaces of the first and second legs being coplanar, wherein each of the first and second legs has a width;   a bridge portion disposed between the first and second legs, the bridge disposed axially at a location between the striking surfaces and the tips of the legs;   wherein the width of each of the first and second legs generally increases over a substantial length thereof in a direction towards the bridge portion.