Staple remover

Abstract

A staple remover ( 10 ) for removing a staple ( 100 ) from a document ( 102 ) and simultaneously capturing the thus-removed staple. The staple remover includes a wedge ( 18 ) for prying the staple free from a document without the staple snagging to the wedge, a bin ( 20 ) into which the freed staple will fall and, when in the form of a handheld device, an enclosed clearance ( 26 ) around the wedge's top or bearing surface that lifts the staple and that is in communication with the bin such that when the remover is immediately tilted front end upwardly as the staple is freed, the staple falls through the clearance and into the bin. The surfaces of the wedge that engage or could possibly engage the staple's leg portions, are adapted to prevent snagging of the staple when freed from the document. The bin could include an opening ( 24 ) covered by a cap ( 22 ) that is removable to permit emptying.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising: a wedge having a leading edge for prying beneath a staple's horizontal section between said a staple's leg portions, a top bearing surface to pry said staple upwardly when the staple remover is urged forwardly, and at least one site a selected distance rearwardly where side surfaces of said wedge are locally recessed to pass said staple's leg portions generally vertically therepast without snagging therewith during the a removal of said staple from the document and when said staple is freed from the document, wherein said staple remover is free of staple leg-gripping portions;
 wherein each said side surface at said at least one site is locally rounded and/or angled upwardly and inwardly, defining a non-snagging surface thereat. 
 
     
     
       2. The staple remover of  claim 1 , wherein each said side surface at said at least one site is locally rounded and/or recessed and/or angled upwardly and inwardly, defining a non-snagging surface thereat. 
     
     
       3. The staple remover of claim  2  1, wherein said at least one site is positioned where said side surfaces each have a height about equal to a standard length of an associated said staple leg, so that when said staple is moved relatively said common selected distance, said staple's leg portions initially deformed toward each other beneath said document have been pressed indirectly by respective bottoms of said wedge side surfaces into relatively vertical orientations releasing from said document while said top bearing surface continues to urge upwardly said horizontal staple section moving said staple's leg portions past respective said side surfaces at said at least one site. 
     
     
       4. The staple remover of  claim 3 , wherein said wedge includes a second said site positioned where said side surfaces have a second height equal to a second standard length of staple leg, whereby the staple remover is usable with staples of different standard leg length. 
     
     
       5. The staple remover of  claim 1 , further comprising a body about and joined to said wedge, said staple remover body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said freed staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed. 
     
     
       6. The staple remover of  claim 5 , wherein said bin section includes an opening covered by a removable and replaceable cover by which said staple remover may be emptied of freed staples. 
     
     
       7. The staple remover of  claim 5 , wherein said staple remover body further includes a nose section forwardly of said wedge leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into the bottom of said nose section just forwardly of said wedge leading edge for positioning the staple's top horizontal section thereinto for said wedge leading edge to be pried forwardly therebeneath. 
     
     
       8. The staple remover of  claim 7 , wherein said staple remover body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said staple in said staple-receiving pocket from above the staple remover without defining an opening of the type that would inadvertently permit escape therethrough of a freed staple. 
     
     
       9. The staple remover of  claim 5 , wherein a bottom of said wedge is concave or scalloped between said side surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The staple remover of  claim 5 , wherein said staple remover body further comprises a flat smooth-bottomed skirt along and outwardly from said wedge side surfaces a small distance, whereby the staple remover is easily glided along said document during staple removal. 
     
     
       11. The staple remover of  claim 10 , wherein said skirt is adjoined to said wedge side surfaces rearwardly of a rearwardmost said at least one site, prohibiting movement therepast of said staple staple's leg portions. 
     
     
       12. The staple remover of  claim 5 , wherein the staple remover is tethered to a relatively flat platform for supporting a said document during staple removal. 
     
     
       13. The staple remover of  claim 1 , wherein said wedge is affixed to a stationary object that includes a bin section beneath said wedge, with said wedge inverted and having said top bearing surface facing downwardly toward said bin section, for a said document to be urged over said wedge for prying and freeing a said staple, which then falls into said bin section. 
     
     
       14. The staple remover of  claim 13 , wherein said wedge is movable relative to said bin section for emptying said bin section. 
     
     
       15. The staple remover of  claim 1 , wherein said wedge is affixed to a body section that includes a bin section beneath said wedge, with said wedge inverted and having said top bearing surface facing downwardly toward said bin section, for a said document to be urged over said wedge for prying and freeing a said staple, which then falls into said bin section, and said body section is nestable into a ballast or the like for securing the staple remover against movement during staple removal. 
     
     
       16. The staple remover of  claim 1 , wherein staple-engaging surfaces of said wedge are nonmagnetized metal. 
     
     
       17. The staple remover of  claim 16 , wherein said wedge is formed of metal and secured about a plastic wedge-shaped body. 
     
     
       18. The staple remover of  claim 17 , further comprising a plastic housing body integrally joined with said plastic wedge-shaped body, said housing body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said housing body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said freed staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed. 
     
     
       19. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having a thin leading edge laterally dimensioned to be less than the distance between leg portions of a the staple and having a thickness sufficiently small and otherwise appropriately shaped to be easily urged under a top horizontal section of said staple to initiate staple removal as the staple remover is urged forwardly along said document; 
 said wedge further having a top bearing surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from adjacent said leading edge, and generally vertical side surfaces being generally spaced apart a distance less than said distance between said leg portions of said staple and also extending rearwardly from said leading edge with a common increasing height and substantially in parallel, said top bearing surface urging said top horizontal staple section upwardly away from said document during forward movement of the staple remover as bottom edges of said side surfaces press against said document to cause pivoting or deforming of said staple leg portions therebeneath into a vertical orientation to pass upwardly through respective perforations through said document; and at least one respective site spaced a selected distance rearwardly from said wedge leading edge whereat said side surfaces are locally recessed to permit said leg portions of said staple to pass generally vertically therepast without snagging therewith as said staple is pried loose from said document, wherein said staple remover is free of staple leg-gripping portions 
 wherein each said side surface at said at least one respective site is locally rounded and/or angled upwardly and inwardly, defining a non-snagging surface thereat. 
 
     
     
       20. The staple remover of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one respective site is positioned where said side surfaces each have a height about equal to a standard length of an associated said staple leg, and each said side surface thereat is rounded and/or recessed and/or angled upwardly and inwardly, defining a non-snagging surface, all so that when said staple is moved relatively said selected distance, said leg portions have been pressed into a relatively vertical orientation releasing from said document while said top bearing surface continues to urge upwardly said horizontal staple section moving said leg portions past respective ones of said at least one respective site. 
     
     
       21. The staple remover of  claim 19 , further comprising a body about and joined to said wedge, said body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said freed staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed. 
     
     
       22. The staple remover of  claim 21 , wherein said body includes a nose section forwardly of said wedge leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into the bottom of said nose section just forwardly of said wedge leading edge for positioning the staple's top horizontal section thereinto for said wedge leading edge to be pried forwardly therebeneath; said staple remover body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said staple in said staple-receiving pocket from above the staple remover without defining an opening of a type that would inadvertently permit escape therethrough of a freed staple; and said staple remover body further comprises a flat smooth-bottomed skirt along and outwardly from said wedge side surfaces a small distance, whereby the staple remover is easily glided along said document during staple removal. 
     
     
       23. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having a leading edge for prying beneath a staple's horizontal section between said a staple's leg portions; 
 a top bearing surface to pry said staple upwardly when the staple remover is urged forwardly; at least one site a selected distance rearwardly where side surfaces of said wedge are locally recessed to pass said staple's leg portions therepast without snagging therewith when said staple is freed from the document; and a body about and joined to said wedge, said staple remover body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said freed staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed; wherein said staple remover body further includes a nose section forwardly of said wedge leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into the bottom of said nose section just forwardly of said wedge leading edge for positioning the staple's top horizontal section thereinto for said wedge leading edge to be pried forwardly therebeneath. 
 
     
     
       24. The staple remover according to  claim 23 , wherein said staple remover body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said staple in said staple-receiving pocket from above the staple remover without defining an opening of the type that would inadvertently permit escape therethrough of a freed staple. 
     
     
       25. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having a leading edge for prying beneath a staple's horizontal section between said a staple's leg portions; 
 a top bearing surface to pry said staple upwardly when the staple remover is urged forwardly; 
 at least one site a selected distance rearwardly where side surfaces of said wedge are locally recessed to pass said staple's leg portions therepast without snagging therewith when said staple is freed from the document; and 
 a body about and joined to said wedge, said staple remover body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section with an opening for collecting said staple when freed from said document and covered by a removable and replaceable cover by which said staple remover may be emptied of freed staples and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said freed staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed; 
 wherein a bottom of said wedge is concave or scalloped between said side surfaces. 
 
     
     
       26. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having a thin leading edge laterally dimensioned to be less than the distance between leg portions of a the staple and having a thickness sufficiently small and otherwise appropriately shaped to be easily urged under a top horizontal section of said staple to initiate staple removal as the staple remover is urged forwardly along said document; said wedge further having a top bearing surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from adjacent said leading edge, and generally vertical side surfaces being generally spaced apart a distance less than said distance between said leg portions of said staple and also extending rearwardly from said leading edge with a common increasing height and substantially in parallel, said top bearing surface urging said top horizontal staple section upwardly away from said document during forward movement of the staple remover as bottom edges of said side surfaces press against said document to cause pivoting or deforming of said staple leg portions therebeneath into a vertical orientation to pass upwardly through respective perforations through said document; 
 at least one respective site spaced a selected distance rearwardly from said wedge leading edge whereat said side surfaces are locally recessed to permit said leg portions of said staple to pass therepast without snagging therewith as said staple is pried loose from said document; and 
 a body about and joined to said wedge, said body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said freed staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed; 
 wherein said body includes a nose section forwardly of said wedge leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into the bottom of said nose section just forwardly of said wedge leading edge for positioning the staple's top horizontal section thereinto for said wedge leading edge to be pried forwardly therebeneath; 
 wherein said staple remover body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said staple in said staple-receiving pocket from above the staple remover without defining an opening of a type that would inadvertently permit escape therethrough of a freed staple; and 
 wherein said staple remover body further comprises a flat smooth-bottomed skirt along and outwardly from said wedge side surfaces a small distance, whereby the staple remover is easily glided along said document during staple removal. 
 
     
     
       27. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a body having an enclosed clearance and a bin section positioned below a rearward end of the enclosed clearance to receive said staple when freed from said document; and   a wedge positioned along the body and having:
 a leading edge laterally dimensioned to be less than the distance between leg portions of the staple and having a thickness sufficiently small and otherwise appropriately shaped to be easily urged under a top horizontal section of said staple to initiate staple removal as the staple remover is urged forwardly along said document; and 
 at least one respective site spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the leading edge whereat side surfaces are locally recessed to permit said leg portions of said staple to pass therepast without snagging, each said side surface at said at least one site is locally rounded and/or angled upwardly and inwardly, defining a non-snagging surface thereat. 
   
     
     
       28. The staple remover of claim 27, wherein the side surfaces are a pair of vertical side surfaces extending from the leading edge of the wedge and spaced apart a distance less than said distance between said leg portions of said staple and also extending rearwardly from said leading edge and positioned substantially in parallel with respect to each other. 
     
     
       29. The staple remover of claim 28, further comprising a top bearing surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the leading edge. 
     
     
       30. The staple remover of claim 29, wherein a height of the top bearing surface increases rearwardly from the leading edge. 
     
     
       31. The staple remover of claim 30, wherein the top bearing surface includes an inclined surface. 
     
     
       32. The staple remover of claim 31, wherein the inclined surface has an angle of from 5 to about 25 degrees. 
     
     
       33. The staple remover of claim 32, wherein the angle is between 8 and 18 degrees. 
     
     
       34. The staple remover of claim 27, further comprising a lid pivotally or removably attached to the bin section. 
     
     
       35. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having:
 a leading edge laterally dimensioned to be less than the distance between leg portions of the staple and having a thickness sufficiently small and otherwise appropriately shaped to be easily urged under a top horizontal section of said staple to initiate staple removal as the staple remover is urged forwardly along said document; 
 a pair of vertical side surfaces extending from the leading edge and spaced apart a distance less than said distance between said leg portions of said staple and also extending rearwardly from said leading edge and positioned substantially in parallel with respect to each other; and 
 a bin section positioned below the pair of vertical side surfaces to receive said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance for passage of said staple from the pair of vertical side surfaces and covered by a removable and replaceable cover by which said staple remover may be emptied of freed staples; and 
   at least one respective site spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the leading edge whereat side surfaces are locally recessed to permit said leg portions of said staple to pass therepast without snagging.   
     
     
       36. The staple remover of claim 35, further comprising a top bearing surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the leading edge. 
     
     
       37. The staple remover of claim 36, wherein a height of the top bearing surface increases rearwardly from the leading edge. 
     
     
       38. The staple remover of claim 37, wherein the top bearing surface includes an inclined surface. 
     
     
       39. The staple remover of claim 38, wherein the inclined surface has an angle of from 5 to about 25 degrees. 
     
     
       40. The staple remover of claim 39, wherein the angle is between 8 and 18 degrees. 
     
     
       41. The staple remover of claim 35, further comprising a lid traversing an exterior opening of said bin section and is pivotally or removably attached to the bin section. 
     
     
       42. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a body having a bin section;   a wedge operatively associated with said body, said wedge having a leading edge and also having a bearing surface extending from said leading edge, all for prying a said staple from a said document by lifting said staple from said document as said wedge is urged forwardly against and over said document and under said staple; and   at least one respective site spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the leading edge whereat side surfaces are locally recessed to permit said leg portions of said staple to pass therepast without snagging;   said body further having an enclosed clearance therewithin adjacent said bearing surface, said enclosed clearance being in communication with said bin section such that a said staple that has been removed from said document by said bearing surface of said wedge, will enter said enclosed clearance and follow said enclosed clearance to and into said bin section,   whereby a staple thus removed from a said document remains contained within said staple remover;   wherein said body includes a nose section just forwardly of said leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into a document-adjacent opening of said nose section just forwardly of said leading edge for positioning a horizontal section of said staple for said leading edge to be pried forwardly therebeneath.   
     
     
       43. The staple remover of claim 42, wherein said bin section has an exterior opening and having a lid traversing said exterior opening and removable from said exterior opening, thereby accessing said bin section for emptying the said staples collected therein from time to time, and said lid being replaceable to reclose said bin section. 
     
     
       44. The staple remover of claim 42, wherein said wedge and said enclosed clearance are free of any obstructions upon which said staple may snag. 
     
     
       45. The staple remover of claim 42, wherein said body is of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held. 
     
     
       46. The staple remover of claim 42, wherein said wedge includes a document-adjacent surface that is generally planar and said body has a generally planar bottom surface that is generally coplanar with said bottom surface of said wedge. 
     
     
       47. The staple remover of claim 42, wherein said wedge includes a document-adjacent surface that is concave or scalloped. 
     
     
       48. The staple remover of claim 42, wherein said body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said staple in said staple-receiving pocket. 
     
     
       49. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising
 a body having a bin section and a leading end; and
 a wedge having a trailing end affixed to said body and positioned therealong, and extending to a leading edge of said wedge, said wedge having a document-adjacent surface and a bearing surface with both coextending toward said trailing end, and side surfaces coextending from said document-adjacent surface to said bearing surface, said wedge being free of any portions upon which a said staple may snag during removal; and 
 at least one respective site spaced a selected distance rearwardly from the leading edge whereat side surfaces are locally recessed to permit said leg portions of said staple to pass therepast without snagging; 
   wherein said leading edge is appropriately dimensioned and shaped to be easily urged under a horizontal section of said staple to initiate staple removal as said staple remover is urged forwardly along and adjacent said document when said staple remover is in a first orientation, whereby said staple once removed from said document is constrained to remain within said staple remover prior to being collected in said bin section,   said body having an enclosed clearance therewithin adjacent said bearing surface, with said enclosed clearance extending from said bearing surface to and in communication with said bin section such that a said staple that has been removed from said document by said wedge may freely follow said enclosed clearance to and into said bin section when said body is then oriented when in a second orientation to have said leading end thereof upraised such that said enclosed clearance slopes downward toward and to said bin section, said enclosed clearance also being free of any obstructions upon which said staple may snag;   wherein said body includes a nose section just forwardly of said leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into the document-adjacent surface of said nose section just forwardly of said leading edge for positioning the horizontal section of said staple for said leading edge to pry said staple from said document when said wedge is urged forwardly therebeneath.   
     
     
       50. The staple remover of claim 49, wherein said bin section has an exterior opening and having a lid traversing said exterior opening, said lid being removable from said exterior opening thereby accessing said bin section, for emptying freed staples collected therein from time to time, and said lid being replaceable to reclose said bin section. 
     
     
       51. The staple remover of claim 49, wherein said wedge and said enclosed clearance are free of any obstructions upon which said staple may snag. 
     
     
       52. The staple remover of claim 49, wherein said document-adjacent surface of said wedge is concave or scalloped. 
     
     
       53. The staple remover of claim 49, wherein said document-adjacent surface of said wedge is generally planar and said body has a generally planar document-adjacent surface that is generally coplanar with said document-adjacent surface of said wedge. 
     
     
       54. The staple remover of claim 49, wherein said body is of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held. 
     
     
       55. The staple remover of claim 49, wherein said body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said horizontal section of said staple in said staple-receiving pocket when said staple remains attached to said document. 
     
     
       56. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having a leading edge for prying beneath a staple's horizontal section between a staple's leg portions, a top bearing surface to pry said staple upwardly when the staple remover is urged forwardly, and at least one site a selected distance rearwardly where side surfaces of said wedge are locally recessed to pass said staple's leg portions generally vertically therepast without snagging therewith during a removal of said staple from the document and when said staple is freed from the document, wherein said staple remover is free of staple leg-gripping portions; and   a body about and joined to said wedge, said body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed;   wherein said bin section includes an opening covered by a removable and replaceable cover by which said staple remover may be emptied of freed staples.   
     
     
       57. The staple remover of claim 56, wherein said body further includes a nose section forwardly of said leading edge, and a staple-receiving pocket is defined into the bottom of said nose section just forwardly of said leading edge for positioning the staple's horizontal section thereinto for said leading edge to be pried forwardly therebeneath. 
     
     
       58. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising:
 a wedge having a leading edge for prying beneath a staple's horizontal section between a staple's leg portions, a top bearing surface to pry said staple upwardly when the staple remover is urged forwardly, and at least one site a selected distance rearwardly where side surfaces of said wedge are locally recessed to pass said staple's leg portions generally vertically therepast without snagging therewith during a removal of said staple from the document and when said staple is freed from the document, wherein said staple remover is free of staple leg-gripping portions; and   a body about and joined to said wedge, said body being of an ergonomic size and shape for being hand-held, and said body having a bin section for collecting said staple when freed from said document and further having an enclosed clearance extending from said top bearing surface to said bin section for passage of said staple thereto and thereinto, when the staple remover is manipulated to tilt front end upwardly immediately as the staple is freed;   wherein the staple remover is tethered to a relatively flat platform for supporting a said document during staple removal.   
     
     
       59. A staple remover for removing a staple from a document or the like, comprising: a wedge having a leading edge for prying beneath a staple's horizontal section between a staple's leg portions, a top bearing surface to pry said staple upwardly when the staple remover is urged forwardly, and at least one site a selected distance rearwardly where side surfaces of said wedge are locally recessed to pass said staple's leg portions generally vertically therepast without snagging therewith during a removal of said staple from the document and when said staple is freed from the document, wherein said staple remover is free of staple leg-gripping portions;
 wherein said wedge is affixed to a body section that includes a bin section beneath said wedge, with said wedge inverted and having said top bearing surface facing downwardly toward said bin section, for a said document to be urged over said wedge for prying and freeing a said staple, which then falls into said bin section, and said body section is nestable into a ballast or the like for securing the staple remover against movement during staple removal.   
     
     
       60. The staple remover of claim 7, wherein said body is adapted to permit visual assurance of positioning said staple in said staple-receiving pocket from above the staple remover without defining an opening of the type that would inadvertently permit escape therethrough of a freed staple.