In conventional staplers the stapler is pushed through the object or objects being stapled against a back plate so that the ends of the staple are bent into the closed position. The stapler holding arm and the arm holding the back plate are hinged for ease of operation and convenience. However documents in which the distance from their edge to the location for the staple is longer than the distance from the hinge to the end of the stapler cannot be stapled.

I have now provided a device which enables such objects to be stapled.

According to the invention there is provided a stapler extension device which comprises a base plate having a staple receiving means positioned adjacent one edge which staple receiving means is adapted to bend the ends of a staple into a closed position when a staple is pressed into contact therewith, there being a stapler holding plate slidably positioned substantially vertically above the base plate which incorporates a stapler location means adapted to position a stapler so that a staple held in the stapler is positioned substantially vertically above the staple receiving means, the stapler holding means being able to move vertically up and down so that a staple held in a stapler located in the stapler location means is brought into contact with the staple receiving means by downward pressure on the stapler.

The terms vertically and vertically above refer to the position when the base plate is placed on a substantially flat level surface.

Preferably there is a spring which returns the stapler holding means to its open position away from the base plate on release of downward pressure on the stapler.

Preferably there is a sleeve or collar attached to one end of the stapler holding plate and which is substantially perpendicular thereto, which sleeve or collar slides up and down a vertical plate which is attached to and perpendicular to the base plate. This arrangement constrains a stapler positioned in the stapler location means to move

vertically up and down.

The staple receiving means can be of conventional design, as used in existing staplers so that the ends of the staple can be bent inwards or outwards.

In use the stapler is unhinged and the end of the stapler is positioned in the stapler location means, the objects or documents to be stapled are placed in position between the stapler and the base plate. The object can be of any width, as it can be slid between the base plate and the upper plate to any desired distance. The stapler can then be operated in the conventional way to staple the object.

The device of the invention is particularly useful in the stapling of books and magazines where the staple has to be inserted in the middle of a double page.

The invention is described in the accompanying drawings in which :- Fig. lisa schematic view of a device Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically the location of a stapler and Fig. 3 shows a magazine with the staples in position The device of the invention comprises a base plate (1) in which there is staple receiving means (2) which is shaped so that a staple pressed into it will cause the staple ends to be bent over; a staple holding plate (2) which is attached to a sleeve (3) which slides up and down plate (4) is attached to base plate (1) as shown. There are stops (5) to stop sleeve (3) from sliding off plate (4). In plate (2) there is gap (6) which is a stapler location means, into which the ends of a stapler (8) (fig. 2) can fit as shown. There is a spring (11) which acts to keep plates (1) and (2) apart.

In use a stapler is unhinged and the end of the stapler (8) is placed in gap (6) the object (9) to be stapled in then placed in position beneath the stapler, because the stapler unhinged, there is no limitation on the size of the object. The end of the stapler (8) is then pressed down so the staple (10) (fig. 3) is pressed through the object into contact with (7) and thus staples the object.