(Yes, I'm having trouble stapling stuff.)

The purpose of the lower arm of a stapler is merely to offer a platform for the staples to bend the right way. You could imagine decoupling the two elements, if you figure out an alternative way to ensure the platform is correctly positioned. This could be achieved through the use of strong magnets.

You could keep it on your fridge, too.
-- placid_turmoil, Feb 25 2007

Super strong magnets http://www.thinkgee...ktoys/science/770f/
[fridge duck, Feb 25 2007]

Singing Monkey Balls http://www.thinkgee...s/cubegoodies/8c94/
[placid_turmoil, Feb 25 2007]

Sideways Stapler Sideways_20Stapler_20Mk2
Prior Art [csea, Feb 25 2007]

Considering how much force is required to puncture a sheaf of paper and bend the staple into a clasp, I suspect that the weight of the magnet required, as well as its strength and the effort required to position it correctly, would make such a device difficult to use.

[+] for a really nice concept, though.
-- nuclear hobo, Feb 25 2007


If I might paraphrase your words, the purpose of a stapler's lower arm is not simply to provide a platform with grooves in it to ensure the points of the staples bend correctly (either innies or outies), but it also, and perhaps more importantly, compresses the stack of papers to be pierced to ensure the full penetration of each pointy bit before it gets bent. As hobo pointed out, making a magnet powerful enough would be tricky. To help somewhat with positioning the magnet why couldn't we make it round, with a raised outer rim? Once the staple points hit the rim and have begun to turn inwards they would continue inwards then contact an inner raised rim to finish them nicely, leaving no rough point to snag your finger.

Just as an aside, has anyone ever used the "outies" setting on their stapler? Why does it exist? Is it supposed to be better/stronger/cooler?
-- Canuck, Feb 25 2007


I don't think the problems pointed out here are even problems, why do the magnets need to have so much strength? A pair of small magnets can attract through an inch of wood, so a few sheets of paper will be no problem.

Anyway - even if they really do need to be super strong, they won't be tricky to get hold of (see link).

I think this is a great idea.
-- fridge duck, Feb 25 2007


The magnets don't worry me too much. For instance, I am amazed at the strength of the "monkey balls" I recently acquired; when I place one on either side of the palm of my hand, they stick!

The circular platform is a great idea.
-- placid_turmoil, Feb 25 2007


//"outies" setting on their stapler?// for when you want the staple to act like a pin, that can be withdrawn easily.
-- po, Feb 25 2007


I believe we have discussed this before, see my anno at the bottom of [link].
-- csea, Feb 25 2007


Refrigerator - You could staple stuff to your cheek, also
-- Dub, Feb 27 2007


I don't think your magnets will be strong enough to offset the forces involved in bending a staple over on it self in the die section of the stapler. Though magnets strong enough do exist you have 2 issues, 1st proper positioning of the die under the stapler and 2 the magnets would need to be inordinately strong to hold enough so that they would be quite heavy and quite powerful.
-- jhomrighaus, Feb 27 2007


No, no, no. The magnet is just there to aid positioning. The strength to compress the stack adequately, and to bend the staple over on itself (or outward for you, [po], that's another puzzle solved) is supplied by you, the staple operator, just like it is in a normal stapler. No magnetic actuation, just positioning.

At least, that's the way I see it.

It'd be a bit of a pain to separate the two after storage, though. There's some rare-earth magnets in the office at the moment, they come in stacks separated by nylon washers. If you accidentally let one washer slip out the two magnets are a major pain to separate.
-- TheLightsAreOnBut, Feb 27 2007



random, halfbakery